Real Property Acquisitions and Development (Details Textuals) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014 properties	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real Property Acquisitions And Developmen Textuals [Line Items]
Properties	1,260us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Percentage of partnership owned		20.00%
Total purchase price		$ 91,000,000
Total revenues	3,343,546,000us-gaap_Revenues	2,880,608,000us-gaap_Revenues	1,805,044,000us-gaap_Revenues
Net Operating Income	1,940,188,000hcn_NetOperatingIncome	1,673,795,000hcn_NetOperatingIncome	1,237,055,000hcn_NetOperatingIncome
Transaction costs	$ 69,538,000	$ 133,401,000	$ 61,609,000

Net operating income from continuing operations

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- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the identifiable assets acquired in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

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Percent of net assets at close of period. For schedules of investments that are categorized, each category has a percent of net assets for the aggregated value of the Investments in the category.

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The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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