CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Income from direct financing leases	$ 54,274,000	$ 54,217,000	$ 59,580,000
Interest income	10,406,000	56,237,000	88,808,000
Revenues	1,846,689,000	1,848,378,000	2,129,294,000
Costs and expenses:
Interest expense	266,343,000	307,716,000	464,403,000
Depreciation and amortization	549,499,000	534,726,000	568,108,000
Operating	705,038,000	666,251,000	738,399,000
General and administrative	96,702,000	88,772,000	103,611,000
Transaction costs	10,772,000	7,963,000	9,821,000
Impairments (recoveries), net	55,260,000	166,384,000	0
Total costs and expenses	1,683,614,000	1,771,812,000	1,884,342,000
Other income (expense):
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net	925,985,000	356,641,000	164,698,000
Loss on debt extinguishments	(44,162,000)	(54,227,000)	(46,020,000)
Other income (expense), net	13,316,000	31,420,000	3,654,000
Total other income (expense), net	895,139,000	333,834,000	122,332,000
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,058,214,000	410,400,000	367,284,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	17,854,000	1,333,000	(4,473,000)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,594,000)	10,901,000	11,360,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	1,073,474,000	422,634,000	374,171,000
Discontinued operations:
Income before transaction costs and income taxes	0	0	400,701,000
Transaction costs	0	0	(86,765,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	(48,181,000)
Total discontinued operations	0	0	265,755,000
Net income (loss)	1,073,474,000	422,634,000	639,926,000
Noncontrolling interests' share in earnings	(12,381,000)	(8,465,000)	(12,179,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to HCP, Inc.	1,061,093,000	414,169,000	627,747,000
Participating securities' share in earnings	(2,669,000)	(1,156,000)	(1,198,000)
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$ 1,058,424,000	$ 413,013,000	$ 626,549,000
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 2.25	$ 0.88	$ 0.77
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.57
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	2.25	0.88	1.34
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	2.24	0.88	0.77
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.57
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares (in dollars per share)	$ 2.24	$ 0.88	$ 1.34
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	470,551	468,759	467,195
Diluted (in shares)	475,387	468,935	467,403
Rental and related revenues
Revenues:
Rental and related revenues and resident fees and services	$ 1,237,236,000	$ 1,213,649,000	$ 1,294,071,000
Resident fees
Revenues:
Rental and related revenues and resident fees and services	$ 544,773,000	$ 524,275,000	$ 686,835,000