Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Segment	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | Segment		5
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 1,263,156	$ 1,247,881
Segment operating income	[1]	362,026	370,440
General and administrative (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense)		92,621	89,530
Transaction costs		850	6,742
Facility lease expense		96,689	94,471
Depreciation and amortization		127,137	220,427
Asset impairment		3,375	0
Loss on facility lease termination		0	76,143
Income (loss) from operations		41,354	(116,873)
Total assets		9,988,672		$ 10,048,564
Retirement Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	169,426	163,486
Segment operating income	[1]	74,449	70,524
Total assets		1,542,954		1,549,623
Assisted Living [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	617,270	617,344
Segment operating income	[1]	220,810	223,506
Total assets		6,294,576		6,347,178
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	122,192	115,411
Segment operating income	[1]	14,518	22,742
Total assets		288,883		292,540
CCRCs Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	152,260	155,991
Segment operating income	[1]	35,469	38,571
Total assets		1,020,500		1,035,371
Management Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[3]	202,008	195,649
Segment operating income	[1]	16,780	$ 15,097
Total assets		$ 841,759		$ 823,852

[1] Segment operating income is defined as segment revenues less segment operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization).

[2] All revenue is earned from external third parties in the United States.

[3] Management services segment revenue includes reimbursements for which the Company is the primary obligor of costs incurred on behalf of managed communities.