Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$ 401,628	$ 393,095
Income taxes paid	5,734	4,808
Capitalized interest	8,490	5,995
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activities:
Accrued construction costs	60,897	46,104
Non-cash acquisitions and dispositions settled with receivables and restricted cash held in connection with Section 1031 transactions	15,570	346,745
Tenant funded tenant improvements owned by HCP	21,085	17,552
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing activities:
Vesting of restricted stock units	527	382
Conversion of non-managing member units into common stock	6,093	2,454
Noncontrolling interest and other liabilities, net assumed in connection with the RIDEA III acquisition		61,219
Noncontrolling interest issued in connection with real estate acquisitions		3,885
Mortgage debt and other liabilities assumed with real estate acquisitions	78,131	21,076
Unrealized (losses) on available-for-sale securities and derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net	$ 1,531	$ (647)