Real Property Acquisitions and Development (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Development projects:
Development projects	$ 336,048	$ 470,096	$ 435,410
Expansion projects	4,983	45,414	3,216
Total construction in progress conversions	341,031	515,510	438,626
Future minimum lease payments receivable under operating leases
2013	1,039,427
2014	980,258
2015	952,029
2016	950,079
2017	929,224
Thereafter	7,579,800
Totals	12,430,817
Senior Housing Facilities Triple Net [Member]
Development projects:
Development projects	146,913	114,161	273,034
Medical Facilities [Member]
Development projects:
Development projects	$ 189,135	$ 355,935	$ 162,376

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Development Projects Placed Into Service.

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Expansion projects.

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Total construction in progress conversions.

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Future minimum rental payments in aggregate as of the balance sheet date under operating leases.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6454179&loc=d3e41551-112718

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 23

-Subparagraph b(ii)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Future rental payments receivable within one year of the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Future rental payments receivable within the fifth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Future rental payments receivable within the fourth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Future rental payments receivable within the second year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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Future minimum lease payments receivable under operating leases for periods greater than five years following the balance sheet date.

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