Investments in Unconsolidated Ventures - Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Operating real estate, net		$ 1,583,429				$ 1,583,429		$ 1,700,218
Total revenues		69,992		$ 74,972		142,883	$ 147,493
Other assets		15,079				15,079		14,489
Net income (loss)		(139,995)	$ (12,547)	(17,460)	$ (18,669)	(152,542)	(36,129)
Total assets	[1]	2,023,322				2,023,322		2,141,207
Total liabilities	[1]	1,506,185				1,506,185		1,473,703
Equity		517,137	$ 654,454	706,922	$ 726,119	517,137	706,922	667,504	$ 744,374
Total liabilities and equity		2,023,322				2,023,322		2,141,207
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Operating real estate, net		3,317,306				3,317,306		3,566,586
Total revenues		335,511		331,390		670,661	656,895
Other assets		1,087,599				1,087,599		1,053,433
Net income (loss)		(230,332)		$ (19,528)		(238,356)	$ (19,384)
Total assets		4,404,905				4,404,905		4,620,019
Total liabilities		3,297,832				3,297,832		3,257,970
Equity		1,107,073				1,107,073		1,362,049
Total liabilities and equity		$ 4,404,905				$ 4,404,905		$ 4,620,019

[1] Represents the consolidated assets and liabilities of NorthStar Healthcare Income Operating Partnership, LP (the “Operating Partnership”). The Operating Partnership is a consolidated variable interest entity (“VIE”), of which the Company is the sole general partner and owns approximately 99.99%. As of June 30, 2020, the Operating Partnership includes $0.6 billion and $0.5 billion of assets and liabilities, respectively, of certain VIEs that are consolidated by the Operating Partnership. Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.”