Earnings Per Common Share (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands, item in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) item $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Numerator
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 117,954	$ 251,059	$ 48,199	$ 707,215
Noncontrolling interests' share in continuing operations	(2,592)	(3,405)	(8,566)	(10,134)
Income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to HCP	115,362	247,654	39,633	697,081
Participating securities' share in earnings	(316)	(446)	(1,020)	(1,999)
Income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to common shares	115,046	247,208	38,613	695,082
Discontinued operations				29,746
Noncontrolling interests' share in discontinued operations				(1,177)
Net income applicable to common shares	$ 115,046	$ 247,208	$ 38,613	$ 723,651
Denominator
Basic weighted average common shares | shares	463,337	458,799	462,039	458,119
Dilutive potential common shares | shares	249	342	263	354
Diluted weighted average common shares | shares	463,586	459,141	462,302	458,473
Basic earnings per common share
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.25	$ 0.54	$ 0.08	$ 1.52
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				0.06
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.25	0.54	0.08	1.58
Diluted earnings per common share
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.25	0.54	0.08	1.52
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				0.06
Net income applicable to common shares (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.25	$ 0.54	$ 0.08	$ 1.58
Common Stock Options
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation | shares	1,200	1,100
Down REIT
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation | shares	6,000
DownREIT LLCs, non-managing member units outstanding | item	4.0
Restricted Stock and Performance Restricted Stock Units
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation | shares	300	100