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		6 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2015 USD ($) item	Mar. 30, 2015 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) property
Summarized combined financial information for equity method investments:
Real estate, net			$ 4,470,249			$ 4,466,964		$ 4,466,964
Goodwill and other assets, net			4,935,343			4,936,866		4,936,866
Assets held for sale			94,866			67,693		67,693
Total assets			9,500,458			9,471,523		9,471,523
Capital lease obligations and mortgage debt			6,575,531			6,536,106		6,536,106
Accounts payable			1,111,350			1,161,178		1,161,178
Liabilities and mortgage debt held for sale			6,318			2,373		2,373
Other partners' capital			1,163,501			1,123,514		1,123,514
HCP's capital			643,758			648,352		648,352
Total liabilities and partners' capital			9,500,458			9,471,523		9,471,523
Combined basis difference						43,000		43,000
Total revenues						1,063,744	$ 1,122,568	2,153,655	$ 2,269,062
Income (loss) from discontinued operations						575	(11,252)	2,572	(13,902)
Net (loss) income						(25,952)	(21,528)	(37,966)	(11,730)
HCP's share of earnings						(1,067)	12,001	(1,975)	25,602
Fees earned by HCP						81	458	172	918
Distributions received by HCP						$ 2,698	2,306	$ 9,623	4,487
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 nursing
Summarized combined financial information for equity method investments:
Recharacterized DFL income to equity income							$ 15,000		$ 30,000
Subsequent Events
Investment ownership percentage						9.00%		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%		50.00%
Cash contributed		$ 27,000
Number of retirement communities | property							3		3
MBK JV | Senior housing | MBK
Subsequent Events
Number of retirement communities contributed to joint venture | property		3
Fair value of retirement communities or properties contributed		$ 126,000