Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Community Purchase Options [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Community Purchase Options [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Health Care Licenses [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Health Care Licenses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Trade Names [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Trade Names [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Retirement Centers [Member]	Jul. 31, 2014 Retirement Centers [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Retirement Centers [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Assisted Living [Member]	Jul. 31, 2014 Assisted Living [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Assisted Living [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]	Jul. 31, 2014 Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 743,989,000		$ 743,989,000		$ 110,322,000									$ 27,916,000		$ 7,642,000	$ 589,263,000		$ 102,680,000	$ 126,810,000		$ 0
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(769,000)		(769,000)		(769,000)									(521,000)		(521,000)	(248,000)		(248,000)	0		0
Net	743,220,000		743,220,000		109,553,000									27,395,000	20,000,000	7,121,000	589,015,000	487,000,000	102,432,000	126,810,000	127,000,000	0
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	160,868,000		160,868,000		159,833,000	55,738,000	122,649,000	63,799,000	33,853,000	27,800,000	0	13,531,000	3,331,000
Accumulated Amortization	(3,768,000)		(3,768,000)		(1,076,000)	0	0	0	0	(1,672,000)	0	(2,096,000)	(1,076,000)
Net	157,100,000		157,100,000		158,757,000	55,738,000	122,649,000	63,799,000	33,853,000	26,128,000	0	11,435,000	2,255,000
Amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets	$ 2,500,000	$ 1,200,000	$ 4,900,000	$ 3,500,000