Earnings Per Common Share (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands, item in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) item $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) item $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Numerator
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 167,748	$ 222,279	$ (69,755)	$ 456,156
Noncontrolling interests' share in continuing operations	(2,863)	(3,394)	(5,974)	(6,729)
Income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to HCP	164,885	218,885	(75,729)	449,427
Participating securities' share in earnings	(370)	(489)	(704)	(1,552)
Income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to common shares	164,515	218,396	(76,433)	447,875
Discontinued operations				29,746
Noncontrolling interests' share in discontinued operations				(1,177)
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares	$ 164,515	$ 218,396	$ (76,433)	$ 476,444
Denominator
Basic weighted average common shares | shares	461,874	458,247	461,380	457,773
Dilutive potential common shares | shares	232	341		361
Diluted weighted average common shares | shares	462,106	458,588	461,380	458,134
Basic earnings per common share
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.36	$ 0.48	$ (0.17)	$ 0.98
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				0.06
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.36	0.48	(0.17)	1.04
Diluted earnings per common share
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.36	0.48	(0.17)	0.98
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				0.06
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.36	$ 0.48	$ (0.17)	$ 1.04
Common Stock Options
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation | shares	900	1,400
Down REIT
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation | shares	6,000	6,000
DownREIT LLCs, non-managing member units outstanding | item	4.0	4.0
Restricted Stock and Performance Restricted Stock Units
Diluted earnings per common share
Shares of anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share calculation | shares	400	200