Represents the number of senior housing facilities owned by the entity and operated by the joint venture.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

The number of renewals available under the management agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the term of renewals of the agreement under which the Company receives management and accounting services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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- Definition

Represents the term of the agreement under which the Company receives management and accounting services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of EBITDAR that is payable by the entity as base management fee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

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- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 18
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64851502&loc=d3e6351-108592

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64851502&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13537-108611

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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=hcp_OperatorsMember
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Concentration of Credit Risk (Details)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Concentration of Credit Risk (Details)	Mar. 31, 2017 property item	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016 property facility
Brookdale Senior Living \| Minimum
Concentration of risk
Percentage of EDITDAR payable as base management fee	4.50%
Brookdale Senior Living \| Maximum
Concentration of risk
Percentage of EDITDAR payable as base management fee	5.00%
Senior housing \| Management and Accounting Services \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Investments in Joint Ventures Senior Housing Facilities Number	59
SH NNN
Concentration of risk
Properties Held for Sale, Number \| property	64		64
SHOP
Concentration of risk
Properties Held for Sale, Number \| facility			1
SHOP \| Management and Accounting Services \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Number of facilities owned by RIDEA joint ventures	65
Management and Accounting Services \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Management agreement renewal term (in years)	5 years
Management and Accounting Services \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Minimum
Concentration of risk
Management agreement term (in years)	10 years
Management Agreement Number of Renewals	3
Management and Accounting Services \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Maximum
Concentration of risk
Management agreement term (in years)	15 years
Management Agreement Number of Renewals	4
Total Assets \| SHOP \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	13.00%		18.00%
Tenants and Operators \| Total Assets \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	11.00%		17.00%
Tenants and Operators \| Total Assets \| SH NNN \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	42.00%		69.00%
Tenants and Operators \| Revenue \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	12.00%	12.00%
Tenants and Operators \| Revenue \| SH NNN \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	60.00%	58.00%