Intangibles (Goodwill) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill as of December 31, 2015	$ 1,047,497
Partial disposal of reporting unit	(11,384)
Currency translation adjustments and other	(2,888)
Goodwill as of December 31, 2016	1,033,225
Triple-net leased properties
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill as of December 31, 2015	312,315
Partial disposal of reporting unit	5,582
Currency translation adjustments and other	2,888
Goodwill as of December 31, 2016	303,845
Senior living operations
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill as of December 31, 2015	260,882
Partial disposal of reporting unit	1,400
Currency translation adjustments and other	0
Goodwill as of December 31, 2016	259,482
Office Operations
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill as of December 31, 2015	474,300
Partial disposal of reporting unit	4,402
Currency translation adjustments and other	0
Goodwill as of December 31, 2016	$ 469,898

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64834752&loc=SL49117168-202975

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Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which increases (decreases) an asset representing future economic benefits from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Amount of divestiture of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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Goodwill Excluding Held For Sale

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