Represents the number of senior housing facilities owned by the entity and operated by the joint venture.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the term of renewals of the agreement under which the Company receives management and accounting services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the term of the agreement under which the Company receives management and accounting services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of EBITDAR that is payable by the entity as base management fee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents number of unconsolidated joint ventures between entity and an institutional capital partner.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13537-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 18

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=hcp_EmeritusMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_SeniorHousingMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

Segment Disclosures - Concentration of Risk (Details)	0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Segment Disclosures - Concentration of Risk (Details)	Aug. 29, 2014 item	Jan. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Emeritus Corporation
Concentration of risk
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures	2
Brookdale Senior Living \| Minimum
Concentration of risk
Percentage of EDITDAR payable as base management fee		4.50%
Brookdale Senior Living \| Maximum
Concentration of risk
Percentage of EDITDAR payable as base management fee		5.00%
Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Management and Accounting Services
Concentration of risk
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures		14
Number of senior housing communities		69
Management agreement renewal term (in years)		5 years
Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Management and Accounting Services \| Minimum
Concentration of risk
Management agreement term (in years)			10 years
Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Management and Accounting Services \| Maximum
Concentration of risk
Management agreement term (in years)		15 years
Total Assets \| Tenants and Operators \| HCR ManorCare
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			31.00%	32.00%
Total Assets \| Tenants and Operators \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			13.00%	19.00%
Total Assets \| Tenants and Operators \| Senior housing \| HCR ManorCare
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			11.00%	11.00%
Total Assets \| Tenants and Operators \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			36.00%	48.00%
Total Assets \| Tenants and Operators \| Post-acute/skilled \| HCR ManorCare
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			82.00%	89.00%
Total Assets \| Geographic concentration risk \| California
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			23.00%	23.00%
Total Assets \| Geographic concentration risk \| Texas
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			13.00%	13.00%
Revenue \| California
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			23.00%
Revenue \| Tenants and Operators \| HCR ManorCare
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			26.00%	28.00%	30.00%
Revenue \| Tenants and Operators \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			14.00%	17.00%	12.00%
Revenue \| Tenants and Operators \| Senior housing \| HCR ManorCare
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			8.00%	10.00%	11.00%
Revenue \| Tenants and Operators \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			37.00%	46.00%	37.00%
Revenue \| Tenants and Operators \| Post-acute/skilled \| HCR ManorCare
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			85.00%	83.00%	91.00%
Revenue \| Geographic concentration risk \| California
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			23.00%	21.00%	22.00%
Revenue \| Geographic concentration risk \| Texas
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)			12.00%	11.00%	11.00%