Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 746,765	$ 737,574
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(21,069)	(769)
Net	725,696	736,805
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	148,213	161,607
Accumulated Amortization	(19,027)	(6,834)
Net	129,186	154,773
Amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets	12,200	8,000	$ 4,700
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2016	8,165
2017	3,726
2018	3,717
2019	2,638
2020	1,133
Thereafter	2,925
Total	22,304
Retirement Centers [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	28,141	28,141
Goodwill acquired during period		20,499
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(721)	(521)
Net	27,420	27,620
Disposal Group, Goodwill	200
Assisted Living [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	591,814	582,623
Goodwill acquired during period		497,900
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(20,348)	(248)
Net	571,466	582,375
Disposal Group, Goodwill	7,900
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	126,810	126,810
Goodwill acquired during period		126,810
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	0	0
Net	126,810	126,810
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Goodwill	12,200
Community Purchase Options [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	40,270	55,738
Accumulated Amortization	0	0
Net	40,270	55,738
Health Care Licenses [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	66,612	64,538
Accumulated Amortization	0	0
Net	66,612	64,538
Tradenames [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	27,800	27,800
Accumulated Amortization	(14,209)	(4,179)
Net	13,591	23,621
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	13,531	13,531
Accumulated Amortization	(4,818)	(2,655)
Net	$ 8,713	$ 10,876
Tradenames [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		3 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		3 years
Management Contract Intangible [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		9 years