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

Represents number of joint ventures deconsolidated.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_NumberOfJointVenturesDeconsolidated
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents number of unconsolidated joint ventures between entity and an institutional capital partner.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_NumberOfUnconsolidatedJointVenture
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- 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

Represents the number of controlling ownership interest entities, in which the company holds the interest and is the managing member of the partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_VariableInterestEntityControllingOwnershipInterestThroughPartnership
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of decrease in additional paid in capital (APIC) resulting from dividends legally declared (or paid) in excess of retained earnings balance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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

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

- Definition

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

+ References

+ Details

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

- 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 carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_QualityCarePropertiesIncMember
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
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryAggregatedDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=hcp_AccountingStandardsUpdate201502Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioAdjustmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_RIDEAJVMember
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:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_ConsolidatedVariableEntityVintageParkJvMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2016 USD ($) entity	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) property item	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) property	Aug. 29, 2014
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of joint ventures deconsolidated \| entity	3
Cumulative-effect adjustment to cumulative dividends in excess of earnings	$ 500
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures \| item		4
Number of properties leased \| property		358
Number of VIE tenants \| item		7
CCRC OpCo
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Joint Venture Ownership Percentage				49.00%
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 224,171
Assets/liability type		Investments in unconsolidated JVs
Carrying amount		$ 224,171
Vintage Park Development JV
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 8,088
Assets/liability type		Investments in unconsolidated JVs
Carrying amount		$ 8,088
Ownership percentage (as a percent)		85.00%
VIE tenants-operating leases
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of properties leased \| property		48
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 8,403
Assets/liability type		Lease intangibles, net and straight-line rent receivables
Carrying amount		$ 8,403
HCRMC
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 5,107,180
Assets/liability type		Net investment in DFLs and investments in unconsolidated JVs
Carrying amount		$ 5,107,180
HCRMC \| QCP
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of properties leased \| property			310
Investment ownership percentage			9.00%
VIE tenants-DFLs
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 601,799
Assets/liability type		Net investment in DFLs
Carrying amount		$ 601,799
Four Seasons
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 100,870
Assets/liability type		Loans and marketable debt securities
Carrying amount		$ 100,870
CMBS and LLC investment
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 33,166
Assets/liability type		Marketable debt and cost method investment
Carrying amount		$ 33,166
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities \| Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-02 - Consolidation \| Adjustment
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Total assets			$ 543,000
Total liabilities			$ 651,000
RIDEA I
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
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Ownership percentage (as a percent)		90.00%
HCP Ventures V
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Ownership percentage (as a percent)		51.00%
Vintage Park Development JV
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Ownership percentage (as a percent)		90.00%
DownREIT Partnerships
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of controlling ownership interest entities as a managing member \| item		5