CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 600,582	$ 483,707
Depreciation and amortization of real estate, in-place lease and other intangibles:
Continuing operations	259,039	265,742
Discontinued operations	7,300	4,286
Amortization of above and below market lease intangibles, net	(1,855)	(3,271)
Amortization of deferred compensation	16,947	15,286
Amortization of deferred financing costs, net	12,415	22,118
Straight-line rents	(33,608)	(46,936)
Loan and direct financing lease interest accretion	(71,923)	(65,973)
Deferred rental revenues	1,101	(1,284)
Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(42,803)	(32,798)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,775	2,462
Gain on sales of real estate	(2,856)
Gain upon consolidation of joint venture		(7,769)
Gain upon settlement of loans receivable		(22,812)
Derivative (gains) losses, net	43	(1,226)
Impairments	7,878	15,400
Changes in:
Accounts receivable, net	(5,082)	3,206
Other assets	(7,303)	28,631
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(21,697)	(71,848)
Net cash provided by operating activities	720,953	586,921
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash used in the HCR ManorCare Acquisition, net of cash acquired		(4,026,556)
Cash used in the HCP Ventures II purchase, net of cash acquired		(135,550)
Other acquisitions of real estate	(172,380)	(113,462)
Development of real estate	(87,119)	(57,167)
Leasing costs and tenant and capital improvements	(42,817)	(31,772)
Proceeds from sales of real estate, net	7,238
Purchase of an interest in unconsolidated joint ventures		(95,000)
Distributions in excess of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,051	1,936
Purchase of marketable securities	(214,859)	(22,449)
Principal repayments on loans receivable	4,660	303,867
Investments in loans receivable	(145,597)	(363,337)
Increase in restricted cash	(1,875)	(11,532)
Net cash used in investing activities	(650,698)	(4,551,022)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) under bank line of credit	(454,000)	375,000
Borrowings under term loan	214,789
Repayments of mortgage debt	(109,569)	(152,517)
Issuance of senior unsecured notes	750,000	2,400,000
Repayment of senior unsecured notes	(250,000)	(292,265)
Deferred financing costs	(18,256)	(43,716)
Preferred stock redemption	(295,500)
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock and exercise of options	804,412	1,302,883
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(638,228)	(586,048)
Issuance of noncontrolling interests	826	14,028
Purchase of noncontrolling interests		(34,104)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11,759)	(11,001)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(7,285)	2,972,260
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	62,970	(991,841)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	33,506	1,036,701
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 96,476	$ 44,860