Segment Disclosures - Assets by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Disclosure
Real estate assets held for sale, net		$ 311,243	$ 314,126
Total assets	[1]	21,199,927	21,449,849
Goodwill		50,346	50,346
Life science
Segment Disclosure
Real estate assets held for sale, net		43,000
Operating segment
Segment Disclosure
Gross assets		23,095,757	22,972,094
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(3,059,436)	(2,941,568)
Total assets		20,036,321	20,030,526
Operating segment | Senior housing
Segment Disclosure
Gross assets		9,931,444	9,812,142
Goodwill		31,000	31,000
Operating segment | Post-acute/skilled
Segment Disclosure
Gross assets		5,111,794	5,162,947
Goodwill		3,000	3,000
Operating segment | Life science
Segment Disclosure
Gross assets		3,944,689	3,905,137
Operating segment | Medical office
Segment Disclosure
Gross assets		3,485,010	3,469,048
Goodwill		11,000	11,000
Operating segment | Hospital
Segment Disclosure
Gross assets		622,820	622,820
Goodwill		5,000	5,000
Other non-segment
Segment Disclosure
Total assets		$ 852,363	$ 1,105,197

[1] HCP, Inc.’s consolidated total assets and total liabilities at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include certain assets of variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of the related VIE. The VIE creditors do not have recourse to HCP, Inc. Total assets at March 31, 2016 include VIE assets as follows: buildings and improvements $3.4 billion; development costs $60 million; land $327 million; accumulated depreciation and amortization $567 million; investments in unconsolidated joint ventures $14 million; accounts receivable $18 million; cash $60 million; restricted cash $23 million; intangible assets, net $197 million; and other assets, net $66 million. Total assets at December 31, 2015 include VIE assets as follows: buildings and improvements $3.4 billion; development costs $54 million; land $327 million; accumulated depreciation and amortization $537 million; investments in unconsolidated joint ventures $14 million; accounts receivable $19 million; cash $61 million; restricted cash $21 million; intangible assets, net $204 million; and other assets, net $63 million. Total liabilities at March 31, 2016 include VIE liabilities as follows: mortgage debt $573 million; intangible liabilities, net $10 million; accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $107 million and deferred revenue of $23 million from VIEs. Total liabilities at December 31, 2015 include VIE liabilities as follows: mortgage debt $589 million; intangible liabilities, net $10 million; accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $107 million and deferred revenue of $19 million. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.