Dispositions, Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Rental income, disposed	$ 4,517,000hcn_RentalIncomeDisposed	$ 28,243,000hcn_RentalIncomeDisposed
Expenses:
Interest expense, disposed	1,303,000hcn_InterestExpenseDisposed	7,644,000hcn_InterestExpenseDisposed
Property operating expenses, disposed	14,000hcn_PropertyOperatingExpensesDisposed	673,000hcn_PropertyOperatingExpensesDisposed
Depreciation expense, disposed	133,000hcn_DepreciationExpenseDisposed	8,236,000hcn_DepreciationExpenseDisposed
Expenses, disposed	1,450,000hcn_TotalExpenseDisposed	16,553,000hcn_TotalExpenseDisposed
Income (loss) from disposed properties	$ 3,067,000hcn_IncomeLossDisposed	$ 11,690,000hcn_IncomeLossDisposed

Depreciation expense attributable to properties sold or held for sale that are not reclassified on the income statement.

No definition available.

Name:	hcn_DepreciationExpenseDisposed
Namespace Prefix:	hcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Income (loss) attributable to properties sold or held for sale that are not reclassified on the income statement.

No definition available.

Interest expense attributable to properties sold or held for sale that are not reclassified on the income statement.

No definition available.

Name:	hcn_InterestExpenseDisposed
Namespace Prefix:	hcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Property operating expenses attributable to properties sold or held for sale that are not reclassified on the income statement.

No definition available.

Name:	hcn_PropertyOperatingExpensesDisposed
Namespace Prefix:	hcn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Rental income attributable to properties sold or held for sale that are not reclassified on the income statement.

No definition available.

Total expense attributable to properties sold or held for sale that are not reclassified on the income statement.

No definition available.

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