Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$ 108,232	$ 171,422
Income taxes paid	1,105	1,213
Capitalized interest	3,090	3,128
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Accrued construction costs	51,498	56,972
Non-cash acquisitions and dispositions settled with receivables and restricted cash held in connection with Section 1031 transactions	39,991	91,605
Tenant funded tenant improvements owned by HCP	3,120	9,178
Vesting of restricted stock units	293	248
Conversion of non-managing member units into common stock	1,548	4,136
Mortgages and other liabilities assumed with real estate acquisitions		1,200
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net	$ (45)	$ (705)