Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2014 item
Emeritus
Subsequent Events
Number of senior housing communities amended	153
Number of properties with purchase options that will be cancelled on amendment	30
Number of senior housing communities terminated	49
Number of properties with purchase options that will be cancelled on termination	19
Brookdale \| RIDEA JV
Subsequent Events
Number of properties	49
Ownership percentage (as a percent)	20.00%
CCRC JV
Subsequent Events
Ownership percentage (as a percent)	49.00%
Number of retirement communities	14
Investment in strategic joint venture	$ 1.2
CCRC JV \| Brookdale
Subsequent Events
Ownership percentage (as a percent)	51.00%

Represents the amount of investment in strategic joint venture.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_JointVentureInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the ownership percentage in joint venture.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_JointVentureOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of facilities the entity acquired at the end of an acquisition for which existing lease agreement is amended.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_NumberOfFacilitiesAcquiredForWhichExistingLeaseAgreementIsAmended
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of facilities the entity acquired at the end of an acquisition for which existing lease agreement is terminated.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_NumberOfFacilitiesAcquiredForWhichExistingLeaseAgreementIsTerminated
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of properties with cancelled purchase options that will be cancelled on amendment of existing lease agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_NumberOfPropertiesWithCancelledPurchaseOptionsForWhichExistingLeaseAgreementIsAmended
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of properties with cancelled purchase options that will be cancelled on termination of existing lease agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_NumberOfPropertiesWithCancelledPurchaseOptionsForWhichExistingLeaseAgreementIsTerminated
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of continuing care retirement communities.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_NumberOfRetirementCommunities
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration