Segment Disclosures - Summary Information for the Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment reporting information, revenues
Intersegment sales or transfers									$ 0	$ 0
Rental Revenues									2,040,486,000	1,828,305,000	$ 1,563,210,000
HCP's share of earnings									11,360,000	57,313,000	49,570,000
Operating expenses									(738,399,000)	(610,679,000)	(381,294,000)
Segment NOI									1,348,856,000	1,255,353,000	1,196,478,000
Non-cash adjustments to NOI									2,931,000	6,648,000	(68,785,000)
Segment adjusted (cash) NOI									1,351,787,000	1,262,001,000	1,127,693,000
Addback non-cash adjustments									(2,931,000)	(6,648,000)	68,785,000
Interest Income									88,808,000	112,184,000	73,623,000
Interest expense									(464,403,000)	(479,596,000)	(439,742,000)
Depreciation and amortization									(568,108,000)	(504,905,000)	(455,016,000)
General and administrative									(103,611,000)	(95,965,000)	(81,765,000)
Acquisition and pursuit costs									(9,821,000)	(27,309,000)	(17,142,000)
Impairments, net										(108,349,000)
Gain on sales of real estate, net									164,698,000	6,377,000	3,288,000
Loss on debt extinguishments									(46,020,000)
Other income, net									3,654,000	16,208,000	9,252,000
Income tax expense									(4,473,000)	9,807,000	506,000
Less: HCP share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI									(46,769,000)	(37,727,000)	(14,562,000)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures									11,360,000	6,590,000	(3,605,000)
Total discontinued operations	$ (18,246,000)	$ 108,215,000	$ 107,378,000	$ 68,408,000	$ (679,765,000)	$ 130,210,000	$ 158,479,000	$ (308,028,000)	265,755,000	(699,086,000)	665,276,000
Net income (loss)	$ 61,300,000	$ 154,039,000	$ 304,842,000	$ 119,745,000	$ (594,617,000)	$ 117,954,000	$ 167,748,000	$ (237,503,000)	639,926,000	(546,418,000)	936,591,000
Corporate and other assets
Segment reporting information, revenues
Interest expense									(407,754,000)	(408,602,000)	(358,250,000)
Depreciation and amortization											(5,000)
General and administrative									(103,611,000)	(95,965,000)	(81,765,000)
Acquisition and pursuit costs									(9,821,000)	(27,309,000)	(17,142,000)
Loss on debt extinguishments									(46,020,000)
Other income, net									3,654,000	16,208,000	9,252,000
Income tax expense									(4,473,000)	9,807,000	506,000
Total discontinued operations									265,755,000	(699,086,000)	665,276,000
Net income (loss)									(302,270,000)	(1,204,947,000)	217,872,000
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment reporting information, revenues
Operating expenses									(169,035,000)	(154,259,000)	(51,891,000)
Parent Company
Segment reporting information, revenues
HCP's share of earnings									215,804,000	191,986,000	66,453,000
SH NNN | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
Rental Revenues									423,118,000	428,269,000	538,113,000
Operating expenses									(6,710,000)	(3,427,000)	(3,629,000)
Segment NOI									416,408,000	424,842,000	534,484,000
Non-cash adjustments to NOI									(7,566,000)	(9,716,000)	(66,474,000)
Segment adjusted (cash) NOI									408,842,000	415,126,000	468,010,000
Addback non-cash adjustments									7,566,000	9,716,000	66,474,000
Interest expense									(9,499,000)	(16,899,000)	(32,866,000)
Depreciation and amortization									(136,146,000)	(125,538,000)	(158,881,000)
Gain on sales of real estate, net									48,744,000	6,325,000	3,288,000
Net income (loss)									319,507,000	288,730,000	346,025,000
SHOP | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
Rental Revenues									686,822,000	518,264,000	243,612,000
Operating expenses									(480,870,000)	(371,016,000)	(163,650,000)
Segment NOI									243,752,000	176,696,000	88,131,000
Non-cash adjustments to NOI									20,076,000	34,045,000	10,160,000
Segment adjusted (cash) NOI									263,828,000	210,741,000	98,291,000
Addback non-cash adjustments									(20,076,000)	(34,045,000)	(10,160,000)
Interest expense									(29,745,000)	(31,869,000)	(31,648,000)
Depreciation and amortization									(108,806,000)	(80,981,000)	(42,153,000)
Gain on sales of real estate, net									675,000
Less: HCP share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI									(37,800,000)	(29,448,000)	(8,169,000)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures									4,226,000	(9,032,000)	(4,110,000)
Net income (loss)									72,302,000	25,366,000	2,051,000
SHOP | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment reporting information, revenues
Operating expenses									(166,791,000)	(151,962,000)	(49,571,000)
SHOP | Parent Company | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
HCP's share of earnings									204,591,000	181,410,000	57,740,000
Life science | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
Rental Revenues									358,537,000	342,984,000	314,114,000
Operating expenses									(72,478,000)	(70,217,000)	(63,080,000)
Segment NOI									292,057,000	278,261,000	256,173,000
Non-cash adjustments to NOI									(3,003,000)	(10,392,000)	(10,375,000)
Segment adjusted (cash) NOI									289,054,000	267,869,000	245,798,000
Addback non-cash adjustments									3,003,000	10,392,000	10,375,000
Interest expense									(2,357,000)	(2,878,000)	(3,141,000)
Depreciation and amortization									(130,829,000)	(126,241,000)	(111,552,000)
Gain on sales of real estate, net									49,042,000
Less: HCP share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI									(5,998,000)	(5,494,000)	(5,139,000)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures									2,927,000	2,718,000	2,834,000
Net income (loss)									204,842,000	146,366,000	139,175,000
Life science | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment reporting information, revenues
Operating expenses									(1,601,000)	(1,612,000)	(1,749,000)
Life science | Parent Company | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
HCP's share of earnings									7,599,000	7,106,000	6,888,000
Medical office | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
Rental Revenues									446,280,000	415,351,000	368,055,000
Operating expenses									(173,687,000)	(162,054,000)	(147,144,000)
Segment NOI									273,994,000	254,555,000	222,165,000
Non-cash adjustments to NOI									(3,557,000)	(4,933,000)	(1,291,000)
Segment adjusted (cash) NOI									270,437,000	249,622,000	220,874,000
Addback non-cash adjustments									3,557,000	4,933,000	1,291,000
Interest expense									(5,895,000)	(9,603,000)	(9,396,000)
Depreciation and amortization									(161,790,000)	(143,682,000)	(124,141,000)
Gain on sales of real estate, net									8,333,000	52,000
Less: HCP share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI									(1,401,000)	(1,258,000)	(1,254,000)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures									3,350,000	12,904,000	(2,329,000)
Net income (loss)									116,591,000	112,968,000	85,045,000
Medical office | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment reporting information, revenues
Operating expenses									(595,000)	(612,000)	(571,000)
Medical office | Parent Company | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
HCP's share of earnings									1,996,000	1,870,000	1,825,000
Other | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
Rental Revenues									125,729,000	123,437,000	99,316,000
Operating expenses									(4,654,000)	(3,965,000)	(3,791,000)
Segment NOI									122,645,000	120,999,000	95,525,000
Non-cash adjustments to NOI									(3,019,000)	(2,356,000)	(805,000)
Segment adjusted (cash) NOI									119,626,000	118,643,000	94,720,000
Addback non-cash adjustments									3,019,000	2,356,000	805,000
Interest Income									88,808,000	112,184,000	73,623,000
Interest expense									(9,153,000)	(9,745,000)	(4,441,000)
Depreciation and amortization									(30,537,000)	(28,463,000)	(18,284,000)
Impairments, net										(108,349,000)
Gain on sales of real estate, net									57,904,000
Less: HCP share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI									(1,570,000)	(1,527,000)
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures									857,000
Net income (loss)									228,954,000	85,099,000	$ 146,423,000
Other | Intersegment Eliminations
Segment reporting information, revenues
Operating expenses									(48,000)	(73,000)
Other | Parent Company | Operating segment
Segment reporting information, revenues
HCP's share of earnings									$ 1,618,000	$ 1,600,000