Represents the number of properties sold during the period, not categorized as discontinued operations.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the ownership percentage in joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_JointVentureOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The gross carrying amount of loans receivable that are subordinated to receivables held by other entities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_LoansReceivableGrossCarryingAmountMezzanine
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of loans to VIE borrowers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_NumberOfLoanToVieBorrowers
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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

The number of VIE borrowers in which the entity has invested in marketable debt securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_NumberOfVieBorrowersWithMarketableDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the period of call-option retained.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_PeriodOfCallOptionRetained
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net amount of the investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, credit card receivables, notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets. Excludes trade accounts receivable with contractual maturity of one year or less and arose from the sale of goods or services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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=64801991&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=64801991&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=64801991&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_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryTenantsWithDirectFinancingLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiarySeniorLoansSecuredMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiarySellerFinancingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_SeniorHousingTripleNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryDebtInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_MariaMallabandCareGroupLtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=hcp_MariaMallabandCareGroupLtdBridgeLoanMember
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

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_HcpVenturesVMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_ConsolidatedVariableEntityVintageParkJvMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=hcp_DownreitPartnershipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 GBP (£) property loan facility item	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) property loan item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2014
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Mezzanine		$ 625,116	$ 615,188
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures \| item	4
Number of properties leased \| property	48	48
Number of VIE borrowers with marketable debt securities \| item	1	1
Number of loans to VIE borrowers \| loan	2	2
CCRC OpCo
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Joint Venture Ownership Percentage				49.00%
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 217,655
Vintage Park Development JV
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Ownership percentage (as a percent)	85.00%
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 6,953
VIE tenants-operating leases
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Number of properties leased \| property	48	48
Number of VIE tenants \| item	7	7
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 6,721
VIE tenants-DFLs
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		600,348
Loan-senior secured
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		131,916
Loan-seller financing
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		10,000
Loan-seller financing \| SH NNN
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Mezzanine		10,000
Number of properties sold \| facility	7
Term of facility	5 years
CMBS and LLC investment
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		33,391
MMCG \| Bridge Loan
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Loan amount	£ 105	131,000
Period of call-option retained	3 years
RIDEA JV
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Ownership percentage (as a percent)	90.00%
RIDEA II
Company's involvement with VIEs:
Maximum Loss Exposure		$ 257,534
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