Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures - Combined Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summarized combined financial information for unconsolidated joint ventures:
Real estate, net	$ 5,134,587,000	$ 3,662,450,000
Goodwill and other assets, net	4,986,310,000	5,384,553,000
Total assets	10,120,897,000	9,047,003,000
Capital lease obligations and mortgage debt	7,197,940,000	6,768,815,000
Accounts payable	1,015,912,000	1,045,260,000
Other partners' capital	1,281,413,000	1,098,228,000
HCP's capital	625,632,000	134,700,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital	10,120,897,000	9,047,003,000
Combined basis difference	22,000,000
Total revenues	4,363,815,000	4,269,156,000	4,260,319,000
Loss from discontinued operations	(9,000,000)	(8,300,000)
Net loss	(411,385,000)	(354,079,000)	(15,865,000)
HCP's share of earnings	49,570,000	64,433,000	54,455,000
Investment management fee income	1,809,000	1,847,000	1,895,000
Fees earned by HCP	1,809,000	1,847,000	1,895,000
Distributions received by HCP	7,702,000	18,091,000	6,299,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0
Tax expense	250,000	5,815,000	(1,654,000)
HCR ManorCare | Post-acute/skilled
Summarized combined financial information for unconsolidated joint ventures:
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	396,000,000
Tax expense		400,000,000
Recharacterized DFL income to equity income	$ 62,000,000	$ 62,000,000	$ 59,000,000