Carrying amount of healthcare facilities which are secured by mortgage debt.

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Number of healthcare facilities which are secured by mortgage debt.

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The portion of the outstanding balance of the debt that is denominated in a foreign currency.

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The number of properties held for sale at the reporting date.

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Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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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.

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Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt discount (premium).

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Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date for the aggregate of other miscellaneous borrowings owed by the reporting entity.

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Amount of cash outflow for payment of an obligation from a lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

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The cash outflow to repay long-term debt that is wholly or partially secured by collateral. Excludes repayments of tax exempt secured debt.

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Debt - Mortgage Debt (Details) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	May 01, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 GBP (£)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 GBP (£) property item	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) property item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) property
Debt Instrument
Total debt before discount, net						$ 8,109,126
(Discounts), premiums and debt costs, net						(58,937)
Debt instruments, carrying amount						8,050,189
Other debt						91,263	$ 92,385
Net repayment under bank line of credit			$ 375,812
Repayment of senior unsecured notes			478,314	$ 36,918
Debt maturing in 2017
Debt Instrument
2017						252,604
Debt maturing in 2018
Debt Instrument
2018						496,062
Debt maturing in 2019
Debt Instrument
2019						728,795
Debt maturing in 2020
Debt Instrument
2020						803,907
Debt maturing in 2021
Debt Instrument
2021						1,211,277
Thereafter
Debt Instrument
Thereafter						4,616,481
Bank Line of Credit
Debt Instrument
Total debt before discount, net						492,421
Debt instruments, carrying amount						492,421
Line of credit, portion denominated in GBP					£ 394	$ 492,000
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)					1.65%	1.65%
Net repayment under bank line of credit		£ 105	$ 440,000
Bank Line of Credit \| Debt maturing in 2018
Debt Instrument
2018						$ 492,421
Term loans
Debt Instrument
Total debt before discount, net						274,956
(Discounts), premiums and debt costs, net						(853)
Debt instruments, carrying amount						274,103
Term loans, portion denominated in GBP \| £					£ 220
Term loans \| Debt maturing in 2019
Debt Instrument
2019						274,956
Unsecured Debt.
Debt Instrument
Total debt before discount, net						7,200,000
(Discounts), premiums and debt costs, net						(63,664)
Debt instruments, carrying amount						$ 7,136,336
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)					4.34%	4.34%
Weighted-average maturity			6 years
Unsecured Debt. \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage (as a percent)					2.79%	2.79%
Unsecured Debt. \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage (as a percent)					6.88%	6.88%
Unsecured Debt. \| Debt maturing in 2017
Debt Instrument
2017						$ 250,000
Unsecured Debt. \| Debt maturing in 2019
Debt Instrument
2019						450,000
Unsecured Debt. \| Debt maturing in 2020
Debt Instrument
2020						800,000
Unsecured Debt. \| Debt maturing in 2021
Debt Instrument
2021						1,200,000
Unsecured Debt. \| Thereafter
Debt Instrument
Thereafter						$ 4,500,000
Mortgage Debt
Debt Instrument
Number of healthcare facilities used to secure debt \| item					17	17
Debt instrument, collateral, healthcare facilities carrying value						$ 311,000
Cash distribution			$ 472,000
Total debt before discount, net						141,749
(Discounts), premiums and debt costs, net						5,580
Debt instruments, carrying amount						$ 147,329
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)					4.24%	4.24%
Weighted-average maturity			20 years
Mortgage Debt \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage (as a percent)					2.99%	2.99%
Mortgage Debt \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage (as a percent)					7.51%	7.51%
Mortgage Debt \| Debt maturing in 2017
Debt Instrument
2017						$ 2,604
Mortgage Debt \| Debt maturing in 2018
Debt Instrument
2018						3,641
Mortgage Debt \| Debt maturing in 2019
Debt Instrument
2019						3,839
Mortgage Debt \| Debt maturing in 2020
Debt Instrument
2020						3,907
Mortgage Debt \| Debt maturing in 2021
Debt Instrument
2021						11,277
Mortgage Debt \| Thereafter
Debt Instrument
Thereafter						116,481
Life Care Bonds and Demand Notes
Debt Instrument
Other debt						$ 91,000
SH NNN
Debt Instrument
Number of properties classified as held for sale \| property					64	64	64
Subsequent event \| Unsecured Debt.
Debt Instrument
Repayment of senior unsecured notes	$ 250,000