Segment Disclosures - Summary Information for the Reportable Segments (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) property facility	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) facility	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) property facility	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) facility	Jan. 31, 2020 facility	Dec. 31, 2019 facility	Oct. 31, 2019 property	Nov. 30, 2017 property
Segment Disclosure
Tax benefit recognized in conjunction with internal restructuring activities					$ (52,000)
Tax benefit recognized from CARES Act					(3,600)
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		$ 588,440		$ 491,567	1,173,590	$ 927,721
Government grant income		14,080			14,080
Less: Interest income		(4,230)		(2,414)	(7,918)	(4,127)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture real estate revenues		30,156		64,948	78,349	129,072
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		804			(804)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture real estate revenues		(8,908)		(8,945)	(18,138)	(17,762)
Operating expenses		(315,841)		(213,993)	(691,854)	(382,920)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(23,788)		(47,180)	(60,054)	(93,010)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		2,936		2,829	5,930	5,616
Adjustments to NOI		(3,068)		1,418	80,374	2,112
Adjusted NOI		280,581		288,230	575,163	566,702
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		3,068		(1,418)	(80,374)	(2,112)
Interest income		4,230		2,414	7,918	4,127
Interest expense		(57,550)		(56,942)	(115,926)	(106,269)
Depreciation and amortization		(178,488)		(165,296)	(367,764)	(297,247)
General and administrative		(23,720)		(27,120)	(46,069)	(48,475)
Transaction costs		(627)		(1,337)	(15,475)	(5,855)
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(24,050)		(68,538)	(63,173)	(77,396)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		82,863		11,448	247,732	19,492
Loss on debt extinguishments		(25,824)		(1,135)	(24,991)	(1,135)
Other income (expense), net		19,586		21,008	230,194	24,141
Income tax benefit (expense)		7,346		1,864	40,390	5,322
Less: Government grant income		(14,080)			(14,080)
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		(7,172)		(17,768)	(19,099)	(36,062)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		5,972		6,116	12,208	12,146
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		(17,086)		(1,506)	(29,065)	(2,369)
Net income (loss)		55,049		(9,980)	337,589	55,010
Operating segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		588,440		491,567	1,173,590	927,721
Corporate and other assets
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		0		0	0	0
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture real estate revenues		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture real estate revenues		0		0	0	0
Operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Adjustments to NOI		0		0	0	0
Adjusted NOI		0		0	0	0
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		0		0	0	0
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(52,512)		(55,231)	(106,482)	(103,121)
Depreciation and amortization		0		0	0	0
General and administrative		(23,720)		(27,120)	(46,069)	(48,475)
Transaction costs		(627)		(1,337)	(15,475)	(5,855)
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		0		0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishments		(25,824)		(1,135)	(24,991)	(1,135)
Other income (expense), net		3,235		8,191	1,804	11,324
Income tax benefit (expense)		7,346		1,864	40,390	5,322
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		0		0	0	0
Net income (loss)		$ (92,102)		$ (74,768)	$ (150,823)	$ (141,940)
Senior housing triple-net
Segment Disclosure
Number of facilities transitioned | facility		2		21	9	39
Senior housing triple-net | Operating segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		$ 24,589		$ 49,805	$ 57,724	$ 108,637
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture real estate revenues		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture real estate revenues		0		1	0	(1)
Operating expenses		(526)		(866)	(1,032)	(1,860)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Adjustments to NOI		41		4,806	(3,333)	5,371
Adjusted NOI		24,104		53,746	53,359	112,147
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		(41)		(4,806)	3,333	(5,371)
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(72)		(206)	(154)	(795)
Depreciation and amortization		(7,175)		(15,688)	(14,337)	(32,366)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(1,007)		(15,485)	(5,677)	(15,485)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		0	164,043	3,557
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		0		0	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		0		(1)	0	1
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		0		0	0	0
Net income (loss)		$ 15,809		17,560	$ 200,567	61,688
SHOP
Segment Disclosure
Number of deconsolidating assets		19			19			19
SHOP | Operating segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		$ 155,293		177,001	$ 326,254	303,182
Government grant income		2,209			2,209
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture real estate revenues		24,684		5,922	50,449	11,571
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		270			(270)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture real estate revenues		(504)		(523)	(1,042)	(995)
Operating expenses		(137,507)		(137,460)	(275,637)	(234,407)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(18,686)		(4,430)	(36,642)	(8,591)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		411		320	788	670
Adjustments to NOI		118		898	649	2,080
Adjusted NOI		26,288		41,728	67,298	73,510
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		(118)		(898)	(649)	(2,080)
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(2,837)		(1,326)	(5,692)	(1,989)
Depreciation and amortization		(31,621)		(52,242)	(88,623)	(76,328)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(16,158)		(52,963)	(39,443)	(52,963)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		1,579		4,691	336	9,314
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		2,209		12,817	2,209	12,817
Income tax benefit (expense)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		(2,209)			(2,209)
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		(6,268)		(1,492)	(14,077)	(2,980)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		93		203	254	325
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		(17,779)		(603)	(35,929)	(1,081)
Net income (loss)		(46,821)		(50,085)	(116,525)	(41,455)
CCRC | Operating segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		113,926		0	205,706	0
Government grant income		11,871			11,871
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture real estate revenues		4,781		52,835	26,428	105,073
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		534			(534)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture real estate revenues		0		0	0	0
Operating expenses		(94,248)		0	(250,730)	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(4,826)		(42,456)	(22,863)	(83,833)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Adjustments to NOI		18		4,745	91,579	8,197
Adjusted NOI		32,056		15,124	62,525	29,437
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		(18)		(4,745)	(91,579)	(8,197)
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(1,969)		0	(3,273)	0
Depreciation and amortization		(31,426)		0	(51,655)	0
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		0		0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		14,142		0	184,474	0
Income tax benefit (expense)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		(11,871)			(11,871)
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		(489)		(10,379)	(4,099)	(21,240)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		401		(2,568)	(1,479)	(4,664)
Net income (loss)		826		(2,568)	83,043	(4,664)
Life science | Operating segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		138,496		107,596	267,379	202,068
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture real estate revenues		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture real estate revenues		(57)		(42)	(109)	(82)
Operating expenses		(34,205)		(25,480)	(64,406)	(47,472)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		18		13	35	26
Adjustments to NOI		(2,779)		(7,606)	(7,059)	(10,084)
Adjusted NOI		101,473		74,481	195,840	144,456
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		2,779		7,606	7,059	10,084
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(60)		(70)	(122)	(143)
Depreciation and amortization		(52,356)		(41,431)	(102,567)	(77,677)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		0		0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		3,816	0	3,738
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		0		0	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		39		29	74	56
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		0		0	0	0
Net income (loss)		51,875		44,431	100,284	80,514
Medical office | Operating segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		141,636		141,927	286,782	284,122
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture real estate revenues		691		709	1,386	1,414
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture real estate revenues		(8,347)		(8,381)	(16,987)	(16,684)
Operating expenses		(49,350)		(50,176)	(100,037)	(99,163)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(275)		(283)	(550)	(558)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		2,507		2,496	5,107	4,920
Adjustments to NOI		(951)		(1,212)	(2,408)	(2,960)
Adjusted NOI		85,911		85,080	173,293	171,091
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		951		1,212	2,408	2,960
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(100)		(109)	(203)	(221)
Depreciation and amortization		(54,572)		(54,096)	(107,720)	(107,198)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(2,119)		(90)	(4,825)	(8,948)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		81,284		2,941	83,393	2,883
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		0		0	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		(416)		(426)	(836)	(856)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		5,840		5,885	11,880	11,764
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		210		216	407	427
Net income (loss)		116,989		40,613	157,797	71,902
Other Non-reportable | Operating segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		14,500		15,238	29,745	29,712
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		(4,230)		(2,414)	(7,918)	(4,127)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture real estate revenues		0		5,482	86	11,014
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture real estate revenues		0		0	0	0
Operating expenses		(5)		(11)	(12)	(18)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(1)		(11)	1	(28)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Adjustments to NOI		485		(213)	946	(492)
Adjusted NOI		10,749		18,071	22,848	36,061
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		(485)		213	(946)	492
Interest income		4,230		2,414	7,918	4,127
Interest expense		0		0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization		(1,338)		(1,839)	(2,862)	(3,678)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(4,766)		0	(13,228)	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		0	(40)	0
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		0		0	41,707	0
Income tax benefit (expense)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		1		(5,471)	(87)	(10,986)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		82		1,449	7,936	2,949
Net income (loss)		$ 8,473		$ 14,837	$ 63,246	$ 28,965
Assets Leased to Others | Senior housing triple-net
Segment Disclosure
Property count | property									43	78
CCRC JV | Assets Leased to Others | Other Non-reportable
Segment Disclosure
Property count	15						15		15
Brookedale MTCA
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net	$ 164,000		$ 165,000
Brookedale MTCA | CCRC JV
Segment Disclosure
Property count | property	15
Brookedale MTCA | CCRC JV | Assets Leased to Others | Other Non-reportable
Segment Disclosure
Ownership interest acquired		100.00%			100.00%
Property count	13						13