Segment Disclosures - Summary Information for the Reportable Segments (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) facility	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) property	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) facility property	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) facility	Jan. 31, 2020 property	Dec. 31, 2019 facility	Oct. 31, 2019 property	Nov. 30, 2017 property
Segment Disclosure
Deferred tax assets valuation allowance		$ 31,000			$ 31,000
Tax benefit recognized in conjunction with internal restructuring activities					51,000
Tax benefit recognized from CARES Act					3,600
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		597,739		$ 537,971	1,771,329	$ 1,465,692
Government grant income		2,153			16,233
Less: Interest income		(4,443)		(2,741)	(12,361)	(6,868)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture total revenues		28,794		63,542	107,143	192,614
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		295			1,099
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture total revenues		(9,313)		(9,172)	(27,451)	(26,934)
Operating expenses		(314,292)		(248,069)	(1,006,146)	(630,989)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(23,373)		(47,311)	(83,427)	(140,321)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		3,009		2,997	8,939	8,613
Adjustments to NOI		(9,510)		(3,755)	70,864	(1,643)
Adjusted NOI		271,059		293,462	846,222	860,164
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		9,510		3,755	(70,864)	1,643
Interest income		4,443		2,741	12,361	6,868
Interest expense		(56,235)		(61,230)	(172,161)	(167,499)
Depreciation and amortization		(173,630)		(171,944)	(541,394)	(469,191)
General and administrative		(21,661)		(22,970)	(67,730)	(71,445)
Transaction costs		(2,586)		(1,319)	(18,061)	(7,174)
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(34,550)		(38,257)	(97,723)	(115,653)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		149	$ 165,000	(784)	247,881	18,708
Loss on debt extinguishments		(17,921)		(35,017)	(42,912)	(36,152)
Other income (expense), net		7,060		693	237,254	24,834
Income tax benefit (expense)(3)		(24,174)		6,261	16,216	11,583
Less: Government grant income		(2,153)			(16,233)
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		(5,716)		(16,231)	(24,815)	(52,293)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		6,304		6,175	18,512	18,321
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		(19,480)		(7,643)	(48,545)	(10,012)
Net income (loss)		(59,581)		(42,308)	278,008	12,702
Operating Segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		597,739		537,971	1,771,329	1,465,692
Corporate Non-segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		0		0	0	0
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture total revenues		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture total revenues		0		0	0	0
Operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Adjustments to NOI		0		0	0	0
Adjusted NOI		0		0	0	0
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		0		0	0	0
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(51,401)		(58,311)	(157,883)	(161,433)
Depreciation and amortization		0		0	0	0
General and administrative		(21,661)		(22,970)	(67,730)	(71,445)
Transaction costs		(2,586)		(1,319)	(18,061)	(7,174)
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		0		0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishments		(17,921)		(35,017)	(42,912)	(36,152)
Other income (expense), net		2,765		(287)	4,569	11,037
Income tax benefit (expense)(3)		(24,174)		6,261	16,216	11,583
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		0		0	0	0
Net income (loss)		(114,978)		(111,643)	$ (265,801)	$ (253,584)
Senior Housing Triple-Net
Segment Disclosure
Number of facilities transitioned | facility					9	39
Senior Housing Triple-Net | Operating Segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		24,558		47,956	$ 82,282	$ 156,592
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture total revenues		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture total revenues		0		0	0	(1)
Operating expenses		(421)		(865)	(1,453)	(2,725)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Adjustments to NOI		93		(1,537)	(3,240)	3,834
Adjusted NOI		24,230		45,554	77,589	157,700
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		(93)		1,537	3,240	(3,834)
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(45)		(106)	(199)	(901)
Depreciation and amortization		(6,694)		(12,773)	(21,031)	(45,138)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(12,097)		(7,430)	(17,774)	(22,914)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		0	164,043	3,557
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		0		0	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)(3)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	1
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		0		0	0	0
Net income (loss)		$ 5,301		26,782	$ 205,868	88,471
SHOP
Segment Disclosure
Number of deconsolidating assets		19			19			19
SHOP | Operating Segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		$ 149,615		212,275	$ 475,869	515,457
Government grant income		392			2,601
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture total revenues		23,800		4,943	74,249	16,514
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		49			319
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture total revenues		(459)		(515)	(1,501)	(1,510)
Operating expenses		(130,729)		(166,201)	(406,366)	(400,608)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(18,280)		(3,816)	(54,922)	(12,407)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		361		388	1,149	1,058
Adjustments to NOI		(1,228)		739	(579)	2,819
Adjusted NOI		23,521		47,813	90,819	121,323
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		1,228		(739)	579	(2,819)
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(2,649)		(2,637)	(8,341)	(4,626)
Depreciation and amortization		(24,966)		(58,152)	(113,591)	(134,481)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(24,229)		(24,721)	(63,672)	(77,685)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		(2,134)		(734)	(1,798)	8,844
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		392		0	2,601	12,817
Income tax benefit (expense)(3)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		(392)			(2,601)
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		(5,569)		(1,127)	(19,646)	(4,107)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		98		127	352	452
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		(19,432)		(392)	(55,360)	(1,473)
Net income (loss)		(54,132)		(40,562)	(170,658)	(81,755)
CCRC | Operating Segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		115,031		0	320,737	0
Government grant income		1,761			13,632
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture total revenues		4,295		52,671	30,723	157,744
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		246			780
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture total revenues		0		0	0	0
Operating expenses		(94,992)		0	(345,722)	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(4,797)		(43,193)	(27,660)	(127,026)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Adjustments to NOI		1,684		5,635	93,263	13,832
Adjusted NOI		23,228		15,113	85,753	44,550
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		(1,684)		(5,635)	(93,263)	(13,832)
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(1,983)		0	(5,256)	0
Depreciation and amortization		(30,106)		0	(81,760)	0
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		0		0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		3,903		0	188,377	0
Income tax benefit (expense)(3)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		(1,761)			(13,632)
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		256		(9,478)	(3,843)	(30,718)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		(322)		(9,194)	(1,801)	(13,858)
Net income (loss)		(8,469)		(9,194)	74,575	(13,858)
Life Science | Operating Segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		148,702		118,561	416,081	320,630
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture total revenues		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture total revenues		(66)		(52)	(175)	(134)
Operating expenses		(36,714)		(29,520)	(101,120)	(76,992)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		18		16	53	42
Adjustments to NOI		(8,330)		(7,062)	(15,389)	(17,146)
Adjusted NOI		103,610		81,943	299,450	226,400
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		8,330		7,062	15,389	17,146
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(57)		(68)	(180)	(211)
Depreciation and amortization		(57,170)		(45,028)	(159,737)	(122,705)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		0		0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		(87)	0	3,651
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		0		0	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)(3)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		48		36	122	92
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		0		0	0	0
Net income (loss)		54,761		43,858	155,044	124,373
Medical Office | Operating Segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		145,153		143,639	431,935	427,761
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		0		0	0	0
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture total revenues		699		701	2,085	2,115
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture total revenues		(8,788)		(8,605)	(25,775)	(25,289)
Operating expenses		(51,430)		(51,472)	(151,467)	(150,635)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		(296)		(279)	(846)	(837)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		2,630		2,593	7,737	7,513
Adjustments to NOI		(2,287)		(1,609)	(4,695)	(4,569)
Adjusted NOI		85,681		84,968	258,974	256,059
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		2,287		1,609	4,695	4,569
Interest income		0		0	0	0
Interest expense		(100)		(108)	(302)	(328)
Depreciation and amortization		(53,688)		(54,152)	(161,408)	(161,350)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		(1,208)		(5,729)	(6,033)	(14,677)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		2,283		(7)	85,676	2,876
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		0		0	0	0
Income tax benefit (expense)(3)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		(403)		(422)	(1,239)	(1,278)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		6,158		6,012	18,038	17,776
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		198		216	604	643
Net income (loss)		41,208		32,387	199,005	104,290
Other non-reportable | Operating Segment
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Total revenues		14,680		15,540	44,425	45,252
Government grant income		0			0
Less: Interest income		(4,443)		(2,741)	(12,361)	(6,868)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture total revenues		0		5,227	86	16,241
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture government grant income		0			0
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture total revenues		0		0	0	0
Operating expenses		(6)		(11)	(18)	(29)
Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		(23)	1	(51)
Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture operating expenses		0		0	0	0
Adjustments to NOI		558		79	1,504	(413)
Adjusted NOI		10,789		18,071	33,637	54,132
Plus: Adjustments to NOI		(558)		(79)	(1,504)	413
Interest income		4,443		2,741	12,361	6,868
Interest expense		0		0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization		(1,006)		(1,839)	(3,867)	(5,517)
General and administrative		0		0	0	0
Transaction costs		0		0	0	0
Impairments and loan loss reserves (recoveries), net		2,984		(377)	(10,244)	(377)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net		0		44	(40)	(220)
Loss on debt extinguishments		0		0	0	0
Other income (expense), net		0		980	41,707	980
Income tax benefit (expense)(3)		0		0	0	0
Less: Government grant income		0			0
Less: Healthpeak's share of unconsolidated joint venture NOI		0		(5,204)	(87)	(16,190)
Plus: Noncontrolling interests' share of consolidated joint venture NOI		0		0	0	0
Equity income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		76		1,727	8,012	4,676
Net income (loss)		$ 16,728		$ 16,064	$ 79,975	$ 44,765
Assets Leased to Others | Senior Housing Triple-Net
Segment Disclosure
Property count | property									43	78
CCRC JV | Assets Leased to Others | Other non-reportable
Segment Disclosure
Property count	15						15		15
Brookedale MTCA
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate, net	$ 164,000
Brookedale MTCA | CCRC JV
Segment Disclosure
Property count | property							15
Brookedale MTCA | CCRC JV | Assets Leased to Others | Other non-reportable
Segment Disclosure
Ownership interest acquired		100.00%			100.00%
Property count	13	13			13		13