Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$ 451,615	$ 410,286	$ 412,011
Income taxes paid	6,959	5,071	114
Capitalized interest	8,798	10,314	13,494
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Accrued construction costs	52,511	37,178	15,187
Settlement of loans receivable as consideration for real estate acquisition	299,297
Loan originated in connection with Brookdale Transaction		67,640
Real estate contributed to CCRC-JV		91,603
Fair value of real estate acquired in exchange for sale of real estate		32,000	15,204
Tenant funded tenant improvements owned by HCP	28,850	21,863
Reclassification of the in-place leases from real estate to DFLs			123,891
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Vesting of restricted stock units	409	614	471
Conversion of non-managing member units into common stock	2,979	473	3,583
Noncontrolling interest and other liabilities, net assumed in connection with the RIDEA III acquisition	61,219
Noncontrolling interest issued in connection with Brookdale Transaction		46,751
Noncontrolling interest issued in connection with real estate acquisition	10,971	6,321
Noncontrolling interest disposed in connection with real estate sales		1,671
Mortgages and other liabilities assumed with real estate acquisitions	23,218	37,149	12,767
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(8,738)	(9,967)	47
Unrealized (losses) on available-for-sale securities and derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net	$ 1,889	$ 2,271	$ 7,790