Concentration of Credit Risk (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Concentration of risk
Number of RIDEA joint ventures | item				3
Balance Sheets:
Real estate and other property, net		$ 12,227,284		$ 12,227,284		$ 10,886,887
Cash and cash equivalents		115,770	$ 54,070	115,770	$ 54,070	183,810	$ 300,556
Goodwill, intangible and other assets, net		960,207		960,207		940,172
Total assets	[1]	22,348,127		22,348,127		21,369,940
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other		433,636		433,636		432,934
Total equity		10,526,997	10,972,594	10,526,997	10,972,594	10,997,099	$ 10,931,134
Total liabilities and equity		22,348,127		22,348,127		21,369,940
Income Statements:
Revenues		607,532	536,121	1,218,323	1,066,113
Depreciation and amortization expense		(120,403)	(113,133)	(234,925)	(220,521)
Interest expense		(118,632)	(106,842)	(235,412)	(213,480)
Other income, net		11,116	709	19,104	2,639
Income tax (benefit) expense		(4,563)	1,339	(4,640)	2,785
Income (loss) from continuing operations		167,748	222,279	(69,755)	456,156
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes					29,746
Net income (loss)		167,748	222,279	$ (69,755)	485,902
Brookdale Senior Living | Maximum
Income Statements:
Percentage of EDITDAR payable as base management fee				5.00%
Brookdale Senior Living | Minimum
Income Statements:
Percentage of EDITDAR payable as base management fee				4.50%
Brookdale Senior Living | CCRC JV
Concentration of risk
Number of RIDEA joint ventures | item				2
HCRMC
Balance Sheets:
Real estate and other property, net		2,900,800		$ 2,900,800		2,934,400
Cash and cash equivalents		165,400		165,400		127,900
Goodwill, intangible and other assets, net		4,628,900		4,628,900		4,621,700
Total assets		7,695,100		7,695,100		7,684,000
Debt and financing obligations		6,065,700		6,065,700		6,108,300
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other		985,800		985,800		932,700
Total equity		643,600		643,600		643,000
Total liabilities and equity		7,695,100		7,695,100		$ 7,684,000
Income Statements:
Revenues		1,027,500	1,033,900	2,081,500	2,075,800
Operating, general and administrative expense		(884,200)	(906,400)	(1,782,100)	(1,795,200)
Depreciation and amortization expense		(35,400)	(35,100)	(71,300)	(70,300)
Interest expense		(119,900)	(102,000)	(220,200)	(204,300)
Other income, net		2,100	1,700	4,900	4,600
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income tax expense		(9,900)	(7,900)	12,800	10,600
Income tax (benefit) expense		(4,500)	(3,200)	5,600	4,300
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(5,400)	(4,700)	7,200	6,300
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(7,100)	(6,200)	(6,000)	(8,800)
Net income (loss)		(12,500)	(10,900)	1,200	(2,500)
Senior housing
Income Statements:
Revenues		242,985	193,273	482,774	384,695
Post-acute/skilled
Income Statements:
Revenues		$ 154,603	$ 152,055	$ 321,047	$ 303,247
Management and Accounting Services | Brookdale Senior Living | Maximum
Income Statements:
Management Agreement Number of Renewals | item				4
Management and Accounting Services | Brookdale Senior Living | Minimum
Income Statements:
Management Agreement Number of Renewals | item				3
Management and Accounting Services | Senior housing | Brookdale Senior Living
Income Statements:
Number of Facilities | item				106
Management agreement renewal term (in years)				5 years
Management and Accounting Services | Senior housing | Brookdale Senior Living | Maximum
Income Statements:
Management agreement term (in years)				15 years
Management and Accounting Services | Senior housing | Brookdale Senior Living | Minimum
Income Statements:
Management agreement term (in years)				10 years
Assets | Post-acute/skilled | HCRMC
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)				79.00%		82.00%
Assets | Tenants and Operators | Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)				12.00%		13.00%
Assets | Tenants and Operators | HCRMC
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)				27.00%		31.00%
Assets | Tenants and Operators | Senior housing | Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)				28.00%		36.00%
Assets | Tenants and Operators | Senior housing | HCRMC
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)				10.00%		11.00%
Revenue | Post-acute/skilled | HCRMC
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)				79.00%	86.00%
Revenue | Tenants and Operators | Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		10.00%	17.00%	10.00%	17.00%
Revenue | Tenants and Operators | HCRMC
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		23.00%	28.00%	24.00%	28.00%
Revenue | Tenants and Operators | Senior housing | Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		25.00%	46.00%	25.00%	46.00%
Revenue | Tenants and Operators | Senior housing | HCRMC
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		8.00%	10.00%	8.00%	10.00%
Revenue | Tenants and Operators | Post-acute/skilled | HCRMC
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		78.00%	86.00%

[1] The Company’s consolidated total assets at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 include assets of certain variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs. Total assets at June 30, 2015 include VIE assets as follows: buildings and improvements $751 million; land $125 million; accumulated depreciation and amortization $121 million; accounts receivable $16 million; cash $57 million; and other assets, net $24 million. Total assets at December 31, 2014 include VIE assets as follows: buildings and improvements $677 million; land $113 million; accumulated depreciation and amortization $111 million; accounts receivable $5 million; cash $42 million; and other assets, net of $23 million from VIEs. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.