Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net			$ 356,641	$ 164,698	$ 6,377
HCP's share of earnings			$ 10,901	$ 11,360	$ 6,590
HCP Ventures III and IV, LLC | Hospital and medical office segments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Total consideration for disposition of real estate	$ 634,000
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net	$ 59,000
HCP Ventures III and IV, LLC | Medical office
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Number of properties disposed | property	61
HCP Ventures III and IV, LLC | Hospital
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Number of properties disposed | property	3
HCP Ventures III, LLC | Hospital
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
Number of properties disposed | property		3
Total consideration for disposition of real estate		$ 31,000
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		5,000
HCP's share of earnings		1,000
Distributions received by HCP		$ 8,000
HCP Ventures III and IV, LLC | Hospital and medical office segments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments
HCP's share of earnings	$ 15,000
Distributions received by HCP	$ 45,000