This line item represents the cash contributed to the venture by venture partner during the period.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	bkd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash lease payments for assets subject to operating, capital, or financing leases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bkd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of communities included within a transaction

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This line item represents the number of communities contributed by venture partner.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bkd_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The maximum remaining base term for lease agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bkd_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the total of the costs related to real estate revenues, including management, leasing, and development services.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of revenues recognized from services provided to residents in facilities owned or operated by the health care organization (not including patient service revenue), which may be based on contractual rates set forth in agreements with third-party payers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 954
-SubTopic 605
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51673510&loc=d3e8184-115640

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations that are returns of capital. Excludes dividends or distributions from equity method investments classified as operating activities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate cash proceeds received from a combination of transactions in which noncurrent assets are sold, which may include the sale of a business, an investment in an affiliate (including an equity method investee), property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. Excludes sales of trading, available-for-sale, and held-to-maturity securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Subsequent Events (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details) $ in Thousands	Nov. 01, 2016 USD ($) Community	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	97
Distributions received from unconsolidated ventures				$ 4,836	$ 7,038
Facility operating expense (excluding depreciation and amortization of $118,756, $148,120, $351,667 and $571,059, respectively)		$ 704,221	$ 699,720	2,113,226	2,091,600
Resident fees		$ 1,042,831	$ 1,040,082	$ 3,158,547	$ 3,136,292
Authorized share repurchased program amount	$ 100,000
Termination of 8 triple net leases [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures	10.00%
Number of communities contributed by venture partner \| Community	4
Number of Communities \| Community	8
Termination of 25 triple net leases [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	25
68 communities acquired by unconsolidated ventures [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	68
Facility operating expense (excluding depreciation and amortization of $118,756, $148,120, $351,667 and $571,059, respectively)	$ 153,500
Cash Lease Payment	71,700
Resident fees	$ 222,300
Termination of 29 triple net leases [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	29
Facility operating expense (excluding depreciation and amortization of $118,756, $148,120, $351,667 and $571,059, respectively)	$ 52,000
Cash Lease Payment	18,300
Resident fees	$ 64,700
64 communities in the Blackstone Venture [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Percentage ownership in unconsolidated joint ventures	15.00%
Aggregate selling price	$ 1,125,000
Number of Communities \| Community	64
Remaining base lease terms, maximum	12 years
Cash contributed to venture by venture partner	$ 170,000
CCRC Ventures, LLC [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Distributions received from unconsolidated ventures	$ 200,000
Retirement Centers [Member] \| 68 communities acquired by unconsolidated ventures [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	10
Assisted Living [Member] \| 68 communities acquired by unconsolidated ventures [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	50
Assisted Living [Member] \| Termination of 29 triple net leases [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	27
CCRCs Rental [Member] \| 68 communities acquired by unconsolidated ventures [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	8
CCRCs Rental [Member] \| Termination of 29 triple net leases [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Communities \| Community	2