Represents the ownership percentage in joint venture.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_JointVentureOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of properties leased by the entity to tenants that have been identified as a VIE.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_PropertiesLeasedNumber
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of tenants of properties leased by entity for which the tenant is considered a VIE tenant.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_VIETenantsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Balance sheet classification of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) assets included in the statement of financial position of the reporting entity. This element is applicable for variable interests whether the reporting entity has a controlling financial interest (primary beneficiary) or not.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=52262685&loc=d3e5710-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityClassificationOfCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets and liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssetsAndLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=52262685&loc=d3e5728-111685

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=52262685&loc=d3e5747-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=52262685&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryInvestmentInJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_VintageIlDevelopmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryTenantsWithOperatingLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_HCRManorCareIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryTenantsWithDirectFinancingLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_FourSeasonsHealthCareMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryDebtInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_Ridea2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_Ridea3OpcoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) property item	Aug. 29, 2014
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Joint Venture Ownership Percentage			49.00%
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of properties leased \| item		366
Number of VIE tenants \| item		7
CCRC OpCo
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 232,404
Assets/liability type		Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
Carrying amount		$ 232,404
Vintage Park
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 8,729
Assets/liability type		Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
Carrying amount		$ 8,729
Ownership percentage (as a percent)		85.00%
VIE tenants-operating leases
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 10,727
Assets/liability type		Lease intangibles, net and straight-line rent receivables
Carrying amount		$ 10,727
HCRMC
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of properties leased \| property		318
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 5,154,315
Assets/liability type		Net investment in DFLs and investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
Carrying amount		$ 5,154,315
VIE tenants-DFLs
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 599,652
Assets/liability type		Net investment in DFLs
Carrying amount		$ 599,652
Four Seasons
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 127,435
Assets/liability type		Loans and marketable debt securities
Carrying amount		$ 127,435
CMBS
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 17,930
Assets/liability type		Marketable debt securities
Carrying amount		$ 17,930
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Ownership percentage (as a percent)	90.00%
RIDEA II
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Ownership percentage (as a percent)		80.00%
RIDEA III OpCo
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Ownership percentage (as a percent)		90.00%