Dispositions of Real Estate and Discontinued Operations - HCR ManorCare, Inc. (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) facility	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of buildings		$ 335,709	$ 462,242	$ 0
HCRMC
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed (in facilities) | facility				13
Proceeds from sale of buildings				$ 153,000
Maximum
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Federal and state built-in gain tax from assets sold					$ 2,000,000
HCRMC
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income from direct financing leases				385,000
Cash payments received				$ 385,000
Federal and state built-in gain tax from assets sold, term					10 years
Period intended to hold the assets					10 years
Federal built-in gain tax from assets sold, federal term	5 years
Federal built-in gain tax from assets sold, state term	10 years
Period intended to sell the assets				5 years
State built-in gain from assets sold				$ 47,000