Document and Entity Information Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Quarterly Financial Data Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Real Estate Investment Property, Net [Abstract] Real estate: Investment Building and Building Improvements Buildings and improvements Development in Process Development costs and construction in progress Development costs Land Land Real Estate Investment Property, Accumulated Depreciation Accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated depreciation and amortization Real Estate Investment Property, Net Real estate and other property, net Net real estate Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases Net investment in direct financing leases Net investment in direct financing leases Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount Loans receivable, net Loans receivable, net Loans receivables Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures Accounts Receivable, Net Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $4,161 and $3,261, respectively Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents, end of year Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents Cash Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Restricted cash Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangible assets, net Other Assets. Other assets, net Total other assets Goodwill, intangible and other assets, net Assets Held-for-sale, at Carrying Value Real estate assets held for sale, net Real estate assets held for sale, net Assets. Total assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Long-term Line of Credit Bank line of credit Loan amount outstanding Loans Payable to Bank Term loans Unsecured Debt Senior unsecured notes Secured Debt Mortgage debt Other Borrowings Other debt Off-market Lease, Unfavorable Intangible liabilities, net This element represents the amount of intangbile liabilities on assets held for sale, net. Intangible Liabilities On Assets Held For Sale, Net Intangible liabilities on assets held for sale, net Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $1.00 par value: 750,000,000 shares authorized; 466,924,935 and 465,488,492 shares issued and outstanding, respectively Additional Paid in Capital Additional paid-in capital Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income Cumulative dividends in excess of earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total accumulated other comprehensive loss Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total stockholders' equity Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Ventures Joint venture partners Noncontrolling Interest in Preferred Unit Holders Non-managing member unitholders DownREIT unit, carrying value Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Balance Balance Total equity Total equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and equity Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] Company's involvement with VIEs: Buildings and Improvements Gross Buildings and improvements Stock Transactions, Parenthetical Disclosures [Abstract] Balance Sheet Parenthetical Disclosures Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Premiums and Other Receivables Accounts receivable, allowance (in dollars) Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Revenues [Abstract] Revenues: Operating Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue Rental and related revenues Tenant Reimbursements Tenant recoveries Health Care Organization, Resident Service Revenue Resident fees and services Capital Leases, Income Statement, Direct Financing Lease Revenue Income from direct financing leases DFL income Interest Income, Operating Interest income Interest Income Management Fees Revenue Investment management fee income Revenues Total revenues Revenues Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Costs and expenses: Interest Expense Interest expense Interest expense Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization expense Depreciation and amortization Cost of Real Estate Revenue Operating General and Administrative Expense General and administrative expenses General and administrative Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs Acquisition and pursuit costs Acquisition and pursuit costs Asset Impairment Charges Impairments Impairment Costs and Expenses Total costs and expenses Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other income: Gains (Losses) on Sales of Investment Real Estate Gain on sales of real estate Loss on disposal of assets Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income, net Other income, net Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income, net Total other income, net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income (loss) before income taxes and equity (loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax (expense) benefit Income taxes Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Equity loss (income) from unconsolidated joint ventures Equity (loss) income from unconsolidated joint ventures HCP's share of earnings Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests' share in earnings Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income (loss) attributable to HCP, Inc. Amount of earnings (loss) distributed and earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method. Participating Securities Distributed And Undistributed Earnings Loss Basic and Diluted Participating securities' share in earnings Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net income (loss) applicable to common shares Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Earnings per common share: Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Basic (in dollars per share) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share Diluted (in dollars per share) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted average shares used to calculate earnings per common share: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic (in shares) Basic weighted average common shares Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted (in shares) Diluted weighted average common shares Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) Common dividends, per share (in dollars per share) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Other comprehensive loss: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax Change in net unrealized losses on securities Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax [Abstract] Change in net unrealized (losses) gains on cash flow hedges: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized (losses) gains Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI on Derivatives, Net of Tax Reclassification adjustment realized in net income Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax Change in Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan obligation Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustment Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive income Total other comprehensive loss Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to HCP, Inc. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Parent [Member] Total Stockholders' Equity Common Stock [Member] Common Stock Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital Accumulated Distributions In Excess Of Net Income [Member] Cumulative Dividends In Excess Of Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Noncontrolling Interests Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Shares, Issued Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Issuance of common stock, net Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues Issuance of common stock, net (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Units Conversion of non-managing member units into common stock Conversion of DownREIT units to common stock Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Repurchase of common stock Repurchase of common stock Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares Repurchase of common stock (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Exercise of stock options (in shares) Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Amortization of deferred compensation Dividends, Common Stock Common dividends ($2.26, $2.18 and $2.10 per share for the year ended 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively) Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders Distributions to noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Subsidiary Equity Issuance Issuance of noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Deconsolidation Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interests CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Amounts recognized in the current period related to favorable or unfavorable in-place lease intangibles on acquired leases that are amortized as a reduction of or addition to rental income over the remaining term of the respective leases. Amortization of above and below Market Lease Intangibles, Net Amortization of market lease intangibles, net Share-based Compensation Amortization of deferred compensation Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts Amortization of deferred financing costs, net Straight Line Rent Straight-line rents Accretion Expense Loan and direct financing lease non-cash interest Recognition of Deferred Revenue Deferred rental revenues Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination Lease termination income, net Net termination fee revenue Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments Gain on sales of real estate Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income tax expense Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax Foreign exchange and other (gains) losses, net The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value and the amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of an intangible asset (excluding goodwill) to fair value. Asset Impairment Charges, Cash Flow Impact Impairment Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable, net Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Payments to Acquire Real Estate Acquisitions of real estate Payments to Develop Real Estate Assets Development of real estate Payments for Leasing Costs, Commissions, and Tenant Improvements Leasing costs and tenant and capital improvements Payments to Acquire Interest in Subsidiaries and Affiliates Contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures The cash inflow from unconsolidated joint ventures in which the entity does not have sufficient US GAAP earnings (accumulated or in the current period) to distribute funds to partners, thereby constituting a return of investment. Distributions in Excess of Earnings from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Distributions in excess of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures Proceeds from Principal Repayments on Loans and Leases Held-for-investment Principal repayments on loans receivable, direct financing leases and other Payments to Acquire Notes Receivable Investments in loans receivable and other Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash Decrease in restricted cash Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from Lines of Credit Amount draw on the revolving line of credit facility Net borrowings under bank line of credit Repayments of Lines of Credit Repayments under bank line of credit The cash inflow from a Short-Term financing which is expected to be paid back relatively quickly, such as by a subsequent longer-term loan. Also called swing loan or bridge financing. Proceeds from Term and Bridge Loans Borrowings under term loan Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt Issuance of senior unsecured notes Repayments of Unsecured Debt Repayments of senior unsecured notes Repayments of Secured Debt Repayments of mortgage and other debt Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Deferred financing costs Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity Issuance of common stock and exercise of options Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Repurchase of common stock Payments of Dividends Dividends paid on common stock Proceeds from (Payments to) Noncontrolling Interests Issuance of noncontrolling interests Payments to Noncontrolling Interests Distributions to noncontrolling interest Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Business Nature of Operations [Text Block] Business Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Real Estate Property Investments Disclosure of all information related to any significant acquisition of properties. Disclosure may include methodology and assumptions, type of asset, asset classification, acquisition cost, method of acquisition and date of acquisition. Acquisitions of Real Estate Properties Disclosure [Text Block] Real Estate Property Investments Dispositions of Real Estate Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block] Dispositions of Real Estate Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases Capital Leases in Financial Statements of Lessor Disclosure [Text Block] Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases Loans Receivable. Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Loans Receivable Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block] Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Intangibles This block of text may be used to disclose all or part of the information related to intangible assets and liabilities. Intangible Assets and Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Intangibles Other Assets Other Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Other Assets