Dispositions, Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real property dispositions:
Property dispositions	$ 793,415,000hcn_RealPropertyDispositions	$ 448,939,000hcn_RealPropertyDispositions	$ 521,722,000hcn_RealPropertyDispositions
Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Real Estate Properties	153,522,000	49,138,000	100,549,000
Sellers financing	0hcn_SellerFinancingOnPropertySales	(3,850,000)hcn_SellerFinancingOnPropertySales	(12,000,000)hcn_SellerFinancingOnPropertySales
Non-cash disposition activity	(35,872,000)	(12,204,000)	0
Gain (loss) on sales of properties, net	6,411,000	49,138,000	100,549,000
Real property held for sale, net of accumulated depreciation	323,818,000us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale	18,502,000us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale
Expenses:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net	724,000	2,575,000	42,796,000
Segment Discontinued Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Rental income	881,000	18,377,000	96,378,000
Expenses:
Interest expense	157,000	4,246,000	21,735,000
Property operating expenses	0	3,396,000	4,482,000
Provision for depreciation	0	8,160,000	27,365,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net	724,000	2,575,000	42,796,000
Dispositions and Assets Held For Sale [Member]
Revenues:
Rental income	90,541,000	108,133,000	104,478,000
Expenses:
Interest expense	20,339,000	22,119,000	23,298,000
Property operating expenses	1,755,000	3,024,000	2,716,000
Provision for depreciation	26,715,000	32,128,000	31,238,000
Total Expenses	48,809,000	57,271,000	57,252,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net	41,732,000	50,862,000	47,226,000
Senior Housing Facilities Triple Net [Member] \| Segment Discontinued Operations [Member]
Real property dispositions:
Gain (loss) on sales of properties, net	6,411,000
Senior Housing Facilities Triple Net [Member] \| Dispositions and Assets Held For Sale [Member]
Real property dispositions:
Real property held for sale, net of accumulated depreciation		18,502,000
Seniors Housing Triple-net [Member] \| Senior Housing Facilities Triple Net [Member]
Real property dispositions:
Property dispositions	747,720,000	189,572,000	372,378,000
Medical office buildings [Member] \| Medical Facilities [Member]
Real property dispositions:
Property dispositions	$ 45,695,000	$ 259,367,000	$ 149,344,000

Amount of total expenses attributable to disposal group.

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Amount of gain (loss) resulting from discontinued operations and disposal of real estate properties.

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Real Property Dispositions.

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Seller financing on property sales.

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Other income (loss) amounts, net of tax expense or benefit, relating to a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, exclusive of the following elsewhere enumerated categories: income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount of gain (loss), after tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.

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Amount of depreciation and amortization attributable to disposal group.

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Amount of interest expense allocated to disposal group, including a discontinued operation.

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Amount of operating expenses attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of rental income attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation).

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Amount of noncash consideration received for selling an asset or business through a noncash (or part noncash) transaction.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of investments in land and buildings held for sale, excluding real estate considered to be inventory of the entity.

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