CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 846,842	$ 554,494	$ 344,395
Depreciation and amortization of real estate, in-place lease and other intangibles:
Continuing operations	358,245	349,922	306,934
Discontinued operations	8,267	7,473	6,513
Amortization of above and below market lease intangibles, net	(2,232)	(4,510)	(6,378)
Amortization of deferred compensation	23,277	20,034	14,924
Amortization of deferred financing costs, net	16,501	25,769	9,856
Straight-line rents	(47,311)	(59,173)	(47,243)
Loan and direct financing lease interest accretion	(95,444)	(93,003)	(69,645)
Deferred rental revenues	(1,655)	(2,319)	(3,984)
Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(54,455)	(46,750)	(4,770)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	3,384	3,273	5,373
Gain upon consolidation of joint venture		(7,769)
Marketable securities (gains) losses, net		5,396	(14,597)
Gain upon settlement of loans receivable		(22,812)
Gain on sales of real estate	(31,454)	(3,107)	(19,925)
Derivative (gains) losses, net	43	(1,226)	1,302
Impairments, net of recoveries	7,878	15,400	59,793
Changes in:
Accounts receivable, net	(7,469)	2,590	9,222
Other assets	(3,814)	27,582	(6,341)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	14,267	(47,103)	(4,931)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,034,870	724,161	580,498
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash used in the senior housing portfolio acquisition	(1,701,410)
Other acquisitions	(186,478)	(113,324)	(212,005)
Cash used in the HCR ManorCare Acquisition, net of cash acquired		(4,026,556)
Cash used in the HCP Ventures II purchase, net of cash acquired		(135,550)
Development of real estate	(133,596)	(85,061)	(92,842)
Leasing costs and tenant and capital improvements	(61,440)	(52,903)	(97,930)
Proceeds from sales of real estate, net	150,943	19,183	32,284
Purchase of an interest in and contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures		(95,000)	(6,565)
Distributions in excess of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,915	2,408	4,365
Purchases of marketable securities	(214,859)	(22,449)
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities			179,215
Principal repayments on loans receivable and direct financing leases	45,046	303,941	63,953
Investments in loans receivable and direct financing leases, net	(218,978)	(369,939)	(298,085)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	3,705	(5,234)	(3,319)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,314,152)	(4,580,484)	(430,929)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) under bank line of credit	(454,000)	454,000
Borrowings under term loan	214,789
Repayments of term loan			(200,000)
Issuance of senior unsecured notes	1,550,000	2,400,000
Repayments and repurchases of senior unsecured notes	(250,000)	(292,265)	(206,422)
Repayments of mortgage and other secured debt	(155,565)	(169,783)	(636,096)
Deferred financing costs	(27,565)	(43,716)	(11,850)
Preferred stock redemption	(295,500)
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock and exercise of options	1,792,786	1,327,813	2,426,900
Dividends paid on common and preferred stock	(865,306)	(787,689)	(590,735)
Issuance of noncontrolling interests	1,584	14,028	8,395
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(2,143)	(34,104)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(15,631)	(15,156)	(15,319)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,493,449	2,853,128	774,873
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	214,167	(1,003,195)	924,442
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	33,506	1,036,701	112,259
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 247,673	$ 33,506	$ 1,036,701