Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012
Acquisition
Minimum lease payments receivable		$ 25,085,037,000	$ 25,217,520,000
Estimated residual values		4,010,514,000	4,010,514,000
Less unearned income		(22,174,130,000)	(22,346,641,000)
Net investment in direct financing leases		6,921,421,000	6,881,393,000
Number of properties subject to direct financing leases		361	361
HCR ManorCare
Acquisition
Minimum lease payments receivable		23,900,000,000	24,000,000,000
Rent receivable from triple-net lease with HCR ManorCare	$ 506,000,000	$ 489,000,000
Rate of increase in rent receivable per year after each of the next four years of initial lease term (as a percent)		3.50%
Rate of increase in rent receivable per year for remaining years of lease term (as a percent)		3.00%
Number of asset pools		4
Rate of increase in rent receivable for first year of extension option (as a percent)		3.00%
HCR ManorCare | Minimum
Acquisition
Total initial available term of asset pools		23 years
HCR ManorCare | Maximum
Acquisition
Total initial available term of asset pools		35 years