Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$ 489,453	$ 451,615	$ 410,286
Income taxes paid	13,727	6,959	5,071
Capitalized interest	11,108	8,798	10,314
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Accrued construction costs	49,999	52,511	37,178
Non-cash impact of QCP Spin-off, net	3,539,584
Securities transferred for debt defeasance	73,278
Settlement of loans receivable as consideration for real estate acquisition		299,297
Loan originated in connection with Brookdale Transaction			67,640
Real estate contributed to CCRC-JV			91,603
Fair value of real estate acquired in exchange for sale of real estate			32,000
Tenant funded tenant improvements owned by HCP	27,014	28,850	21,863
Vesting of restricted stock units	529	409	614
Conversion of non-managing member units into common stock	6,093	2,979	473
Noncontrolling interest and other liabilities, net assumed in connection with the RIDEA III acquisition		61,219
Noncontrolling interest issued in connection with Brookdale Transaction			46,751
Noncontrolling interests issued in connection with real estate and other acquisitions		10,971	6,321
Noncontrolling interest assumed in connection with real estate disposition			1,671
Mortgages and other liabilities assumed with real estate acquisitions	82,985	23,218	37,149
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(3,332)	(8,738)	(9,967)
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities and derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net	$ 3,171	$ 1,889	$ 2,271