Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Segment	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | Segment				5
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 1,258,830	$ 1,238,184	$ 2,521,986	$ 2,486,065
Segment operating income	[1]	379,651	363,826	741,677	734,266
General and administrative (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense)		90,695	89,545	183,316	179,075
Transaction costs		441	421	1,291	7,163
Facility lease expense		92,682	91,338	189,371	185,809
Depreciation and amortization		133,394	225,645	260,531	446,072
Asset impairment		4,152	0	7,527	0
Loss on facility lease termination		0	0	0	76,143
Income (loss) from operations		58,287	(43,123)	99,641	(159,996)
Total assets		9,872,332		9,872,332		$ 10,048,564
Retirement Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	169,990	164,409	339,416	327,895
Segment operating income	[1]	74,754	72,044	149,203	142,568
Total assets		1,537,614		1,537,614		1,556,169
Assisted Living [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	613,017	611,838	1,230,287	1,229,182
Segment operating income	[1]	234,085	223,359	454,895	446,865
Total assets		6,248,956		6,248,956		6,354,415
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	123,336	116,170	245,528	231,581
Segment operating income	[1]	19,032	17,724	33,550	40,466
Total assets		281,392		281,392		292,540
CCRCs Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	148,225	151,561	300,485	307,552
Segment operating income	[1]	33,594	35,860	69,063	74,431
Total assets		1,018,017		1,018,017		1,037,384
Management Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[3]	204,262	194,206	406,270	389,855
Segment operating income	[1]	18,186	$ 14,839	34,966	$ 29,936
Total assets		$ 786,353		$ 786,353		$ 808,056

[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.