Debt related to retirement communities or properties contributed to joint venture.

No definition available.

Name:	hcp_DebtRelatedToRetirementCommunitiesOrPropertiesContributedToJointVenture
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The negative investment carrying amount, which is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the balance sheet, for equity method investments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_EquityMethodInvestmentReportedInLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of continuing care retirement communities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of retirement communities contributed to joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents number of unconsolidated joint ventures between entity and an institutional capital partner.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value of retirement communities or properties contributed to joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hcp_RetirementCommunitiesOrPropertiesContributedToJointVentureFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	hcp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the purchase of real estate held-for-investment and real estate joint ventures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=hcp_BrookdaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hcp_AdvancesToUnconsolidatedJointVenturesNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hcp_BritanniaBiotechGatewayLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hcp_CcrcJvInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hcp_EdgewoodAssistedLivingCenterLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hcp_HCPLifeSciencesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hcp_HCRManorCareIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hcp_LASDKLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=hcp_SeminoleShoresLivingCenterLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 item	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Cash paid	$ 71,373,000	$ 5,473,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	642,795,000			605,448,000
Investment reported in liabilities	(1,083,000)
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures	2hcp_NumberOfUnconsolidatedJointVenture
Brookdale Senior Living \| CCRC JV
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures	2
CCRC JV Investment [Member] \| Senior housing
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	49.00%
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	455,750,000
HCRMC \| Post-acute/skilled
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	9.40%
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	51,649,000
MBK JV
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Debt related to retirement communities or properties contributed			78,000,000
MBK JV \| Senior housing
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of campuses			3
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Cash paid			27,000,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	27,279,000
MBK JV \| Senior housing \| MBK Senior Living [Member]
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Number of retirement communities contributed to joint venture			3
Fair value of retirement communities or properties contributed			126,000,000
HCP Ventures III, LLC \| Medical office
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	30.00%
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	6,658,000
HCP Ventures IV \| Hospital and medical office segments
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	20.00%
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	26,206,000
HCP Life Science \| Life science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	69,758,000
Number of unconsolidated joint ventures	3
HCP Life Science \| Life science \| Minimum
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%
HCP Life Science \| Life science \| Maximum
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	63.00%
Torrey Pines Science Center, LP \| Life science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%
Britannia Biotech Gateway, LP \| Life science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	55.00%
LASDK, LP \| Life science
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	63.00%
Suburban Properties, LLC \| Medical office
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	67.00%
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	5,312,000
Advances to unconsolidated joint ventures, net
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	183,000
Edgewood Assisted Living Center, LLC \| Senior housing
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	45.00%
Investment reported in liabilities	(448,000)
Seminole Shores Living Center, LLC \| Senior housing
Company owned interests in entities, accounted under equity method:
Investment ownership percentage	50.00%
Investment reported in liabilities	$ (635,000)