Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 219,877,000		$ 219,877,000		$ 224,052,000
Investment reported in liabilities	(1,055,000)		(1,055,000)
Summarized combined financial information for unconsolidated joint ventures:
Real estate, net	3,769,676,000		3,769,676,000		3,806,187,000
Goodwill	2,736,400,000		2,736,400,000		2,736,400,000
Other assets, net	3,029,772,000		3,029,772,000		3,061,290,000
Total assets	9,535,848,000		9,535,848,000		9,603,877,000
Capital lease obligations and other debt	6,037,500,000		6,037,500,000		5,976,500,000
Mortgage debt	890,488,000		890,488,000		895,243,000
Accounts payable	946,177,000		946,177,000		1,083,581,000
Other partners' capital	1,476,857,000		1,476,857,000		1,465,536,000
HCP's capital	184,826,000		184,826,000		183,017,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital	9,535,848,000		9,535,848,000		9,603,877,000
Combined basis difference	34,000,000		34,000,000
Total revenues	1,093,873,000	1,032,420,000	2,138,519,000	1,059,309,000
Net income (loss)	16,124,000	(26,439,000)	17,267,000	(26,062,000)
HCP's share in earnings	15,732,000	14,950,000	29,407,000	15,748,000
Fees earned by HCP	470,000	504,000	963,000	1,111,000
Distributions received by HCP	1,278,000	2,158,000	3,407,000	3,127,000
HCR ManorCare
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	96,370,000		96,370,000
Investment ownership percentage	9.40%		9.40%
Ownership percentage presented after adjusting			9.90%
Payment to acquire equity method investment				95,000,000
Reduction in DFL income	14,800,000	13,300,000	29,500,000	13,300,000
HCP Ventures III, LLC
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of medical office buildings	13		13
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	8,012,000		8,012,000
Investment ownership percentage	30.00%		30.00%
HCP Ventures IV, LLC
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of medical office buildings	54		54
Number of hospitals	4		4
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	33,964,000		33,964,000
Investment ownership percentage	20.00%		20.00%
HCP Life Science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of life science facilities	4		4
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	66,883,000		66,883,000
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures			3
HCP Life Science | Minimum
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%
HCP Life Science | Maximum
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	63.00%		63.00%
Torrey Pines Science Center, LP
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Britannia Biotech Gateway, LP
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	55.00%		55.00%
LASDK, LP
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	63.00%		63.00%
Horizon Bay Hyde Park, LLC
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of senior housing facilities	1		1
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	6,964,000		6,964,000
Investment ownership percentage	72.00%		72.00%
Suburban Properties, LLC
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of medical office buildings	1		1
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	7,485,000		7,485,000
Investment ownership percentage	67.00%		67.00%
Advances to unconsolidated joint ventures, net
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	199,000		199,000
Edgewood Assisted Living Center, LLC
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of senior housing facilities	1		1
Investment reported in liabilities	(406,000)		(406,000)
Investment ownership percentage	45.00%		45.00%
Seminole Shores Living Center, LLC
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of senior housing facilities	1		1
Investment reported in liabilities	$ (649,000)		$ (649,000)
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%