Represents the number of senior housing facilities owned by the entity and operated by the joint venture.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of renewals available under the management agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the term of renewals of the agreement under which the Company receives management and accounting services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the term of the agreement under which the Company receives management and accounting services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_ManagementAgreementTerm
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of EBITDAR that is payable by the entity as base management fee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents number of unconsolidated joint ventures between entity and an institutional capital partner.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of properties held for sale at the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_PropertiesHeldForSaleNumber
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 18
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64851502&loc=d3e6351-108592

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64851502&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13537-108611

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_SeniorHousingMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=hcp_ManagementAndAccountingServicesMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_SeniorHousingTripleNetMember
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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=hcp_OperatorsMember
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Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=hcp_SalesRevenuesMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_CA
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_TX
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Concentration of Credit Risk (Details)		12 Months Ended
Concentration of Credit Risk (Details)	Jan. 01, 2015 item	Dec. 31, 2016 property item	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2016 property	Jan. 31, 2016 property
Concentration of risk
Number of properties classified as held for sale \| property						2
Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Number of properties classified as held for sale \| property					8
Brookdale Senior Living \| Minimum
Concentration of risk
Percentage of EDITDAR payable as base management fee	4.50%
Brookdale Senior Living \| Maximum
Concentration of risk
Percentage of EDITDAR payable as base management fee	5.00%
Senior housing \| Management and Accounting Services \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Investments in Joint Ventures Senior Housing Facilities Number	108
Senior housing \| Management and Accounting Services \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Minimum
Concentration of risk
Management agreement term (in years)		10 years
Senior housing \| Management and Accounting Services \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Maximum
Concentration of risk
Management agreement term (in years)		15 years
SHOP
Concentration of risk
Number of facilities owned by RIDEA joint ventures		2
SHOP \| Management and Accounting Services \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Number of facilities owned by RIDEA joint ventures	16
SH NNN
Concentration of risk
Number of properties classified as held for sale \| property		64
Management and Accounting Services \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Management agreement renewal term (in years)		5 years
Management and Accounting Services \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Minimum
Concentration of risk
Management Agreement Number of Renewals		3
Management and Accounting Services \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living \| Maximum
Concentration of risk
Management Agreement Number of Renewals		4
Total Assets \| SHOP \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		18.00%	17.00%
Total Assets \| Tenants and Operators \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		17.00%	13.00%
Total Assets \| Tenants and Operators \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		69.00%	53.00%
Revenue \| Tenants and Operators \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		12.00%	13.00%	19.00%
Revenue \| Tenants and Operators \| Senior housing \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		59.00%	58.00%	59.00%
California \| Total Assets
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		29.00%	30.00%
California \| Revenue
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		26.00%	27.00%	30.00%
Texas \| Total Assets
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		14.00%	14.00%
Texas \| Revenue
Concentration of risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		17.00%	16.00%	15.00%