Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures - Combined Financial Information for the unconsolidated joint ventures(Details) $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2015 USD ($) item	Mar. 30, 2015 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) property	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) property
Summarized combined financial information for equity method investments:
Real estate, net			$ 4,470,249			$ 4,471,115
Goodwill and other assets, net			4,935,343			4,921,705
Assets held for sale			94,866			70,584
Total assets			9,500,458			9,463,404
Capital lease obligations and mortgage debt			6,575,531			6,526,878
Accounts payable			1,111,350			1,147,155
Liabilities and mortgage debt held for sale			6,318			4,941
Other partners' capital			1,163,501			1,140,381
HCP's capital			643,758			644,049
Total liabilities and partners' capital			9,500,458			9,463,404
Combined basis difference						35,000
Total revenues						1,089,911	$ 1,146,468
Income (loss) from discontinued operations						1,997	(2,650)
Net (loss) income						(12,014)	9,783
HCP's share of earnings						(908)	13,601
Fees earned by HCP						91	460
Distributions received by HCP						$ 6,925	2,181
MBK Development JV
Subsequent Events
Payment to acquire land	$ 3,000
Number of units to be built | item	74
HCRMC
Subsequent Events
Other than temporary impairment charge			$ 19,000	$ 27,000	$ 36,000
HCRMC | Post-acute/skilled
Summarized combined financial information for equity method investments:
Recharacterized DFL income to equity income							$ 16,000
Subsequent Events
Investment ownership percentage						9.00%
MBK JV
Subsequent Events
Debt related to retirement communities or properties contributed		$ 78,000
MBK JV | Senior housing
Subsequent Events
Investment ownership percentage		50.00%				50.00%
Cash contributed		$ 27,000
Number of retirement communities | property							3
MBK JV | Senior housing | MBK
Subsequent Events
Number of retirement communities contributed to joint venture | property		3				3
Fair value of retirement communities or properties contributed		$ 126,000