Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 190,730,000		$ 190,730,000		$ 196,576,000
Investment reported in liabilities	(964,000)		(964,000)
Summarized combined financial information for unconsolidated joint ventures:
Real estate, net	3,627,622,000		3,627,622,000		3,662,450,000
Goodwill and other assets, net	5,326,719,000		5,326,719,000		5,384,553,000
Total assets	8,954,341,000		8,954,341,000		9,047,003,000
Capital lease obligations and mortgage debt	6,700,301,000		6,700,301,000		6,768,815,000
Accounts payable	1,033,229,000		1,033,229,000		1,045,260,000
Other partners' capital	1,089,086,000		1,089,086,000		1,098,228,000
HCP's capital	131,725,000		131,725,000		134,700,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital	8,954,341,000		8,954,341,000		9,047,003,000
Combined basis difference	58,000,000		58,000,000
Total revenues	1,064,655,000	1,051,012,000	2,137,843,000	2,135,263,000
Loss from discontinued operations	(4,200,000)	(3,000,000)	(5,600,000)	(5,700,000)
Net (loss) income	(11,834,000)	10,122,000	(3,973,000)	20,494,000
HCP's share of earnings	14,692,000	15,585,000	29,220,000	30,386,000
Fees earned by HCP	444,000	499,000	893,000	942,000
Distributions received by HCP	566,000	1,157,000	3,768,000	2,528,000
HCR ManorCare | Post-acute/skilled
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	80,777,000		80,777,000
Investment ownership percentage	9.40%		9.40%
Recharacterized DFL income to equity income	16,000,000	15,000,000	31,000,000	31,000,000
HCP Ventures III, LLC | Medical office
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	6,944,000		6,944,000
Investment ownership percentage	30.00%		30.00%
HCP Ventures IV, LLC | Hospital and medical office segments
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	28,369,000		28,369,000
Investment ownership percentage	20.00%		20.00%
HCP Life Science | Life science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	68,329,000		68,329,000
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures			3
HCP Life Science | Life science | Minimum
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%
HCP Life Science | Life science | Maximum
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	63.00%		63.00%
Torrey Pines Science Center, LP | Life science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Britannia Biotech Gateway, LP | Life science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	55.00%		55.00%
LASDK, LP | Life science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	63.00%		63.00%
Suburban Properties, LLC | Medical office
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	5,952,000		5,952,000
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	359,000		359,000
Edgewood Assisted Living Center, LLC | Senior housing
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment reported in liabilities	(384,000)		(384,000)
Seminole Shores Living Center, LLC | Senior housing
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment reported in liabilities	(580,000)		(580,000)
Senior housing partnership | Senior housing
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 0		$ 0
Investment ownership percentage	72.00%		72.00%