Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) Segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | Segment				5
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 1,246,126	$ 1,238,841	$ 3,768,112	$ 3,724,906
Segment operating income	[1]	354,142	355,056	1,095,819	1,089,322
General and administrative (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense)		63,425	99,534	246,741	278,609
Transaction costs		659	0	1,950	7,163
Facility lease expense		92,519	91,144	281,890	276,953
Depreciation and amortization		130,783	160,715	391,314	606,787
Asset impairment		19,111	0	26,638	0
Loss on facility lease termination		0	0	0	76,143
Income (loss) from operations		47,645	3,663	147,286	(156,333)
Total assets		9,632,283		9,632,283		$ 10,048,564
Retirement Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	170,706	164,415	510,122	492,310
Segment operating income	[1]	73,112	70,334	222,315	212,902
Total assets		1,527,373		1,527,373		1,556,169
Assisted Living [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	607,345	608,393	1,837,632	1,837,575
Segment operating income	[1]	217,878	211,213	672,773	658,078
Total assets		6,032,315		6,032,315		6,354,415
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	117,263	117,702	362,791	349,283
Segment operating income	[1]	14,624	17,420	48,174	57,886
Total assets		279,003		279,003		292,540
CCRCs Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	147,517	149,572	448,002	457,124
Segment operating income	[1]	32,996	41,395	102,059	115,826
Total assets		1,001,930		1,001,930		1,037,384
Management Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[3]	203,295	198,759	609,565	588,614
Segment operating income	[1]	15,532	$ 14,694	50,498	$ 44,630
Total assets		$ 791,662		$ 791,662		$ 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.