Represents the number of properties sold during the period, not categorized as discontinued operations.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Number Of Properties To Be Sold

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The net gain (loss) resulting from sales and other disposals of real estate owned for investment purposes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(9)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(7)(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(14)(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(3)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873790&loc=SL114874131-224263

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from sale of buildings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfBuildings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_SeniorHousingOperatingPortfolioMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_MedicalOfficeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_SeniorHousingTripleNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=hcp_LifescienceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LandMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=hcp_BrookedaleMTCAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=us-gaap_AssetsLeasedToOthersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Real Estate Transactions - 2018 Other Dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) facility	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) property facility	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) facility	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) facility	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) facility
Real Estate [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate	$ 8,044		$ 95,000	$ 25,000	$ 20,815
SHOP
Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed (in facilities) \| facility	9	2	11	8	2
Total consideration for disposal of real estate	$ 68,000	$ 15,000	$ 76,000	$ 268,000	$ 35,000
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate					21,000
Medical office
Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed (in facilities) \| facility		2	2
Total consideration for disposal of real estate		$ 4,000	$ 21,000
Senior housing triple-net
Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed (in facilities) \| facility	2			2
Total consideration for disposal of real estate	$ 26,000			$ 35,000
Life science
Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed (in facilities) \| facility			4
Total consideration for disposal of real estate			$ 269,000
Land \| Life science
Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of properties disposed (in facilities) \| facility	1	1
Total consideration for disposal of real estate	$ 35,000	$ 3,000
Brookedale MTCA
Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of assets to be sold (in properties) \| property		19
Assets Leased to Others \| Brookedale MTCA
Real Estate [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate					$ 40,000
Proceeds from sale of buildings		$ 377,000
Assets Leased to Others \| Brookedale MTCA \| SHOP
Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of assets to be sold (in properties) \| property		4