Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 755,113				$ 746,765				$ 755,113	$ 746,765
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(49,637)				(21,069)				(49,637)	(21,069)
Net	705,476				725,696				705,476	725,696
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	111,195				148,213				111,195	148,213
Accumulated Amortization	(28,188)				(19,027)				(28,188)	(19,027)
Net	83,007				129,186				83,007	129,186
Amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets									9,200	12,200	$ 8,000
Asset impairment	221,877	$ 19,111	$ 4,152	$ 3,375	57,941	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	248,515	57,941	$ 9,992
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2017	3,575								3,575
2018	3,565								3,565
2019	2,487								2,487
2020	982								982
2021	982								982
Thereafter	1,552								1,552
Total	13,143								13,143
Retirement Centers [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	28,141				28,141				28,141	28,141
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(820)				(721)				(820)	(721)
Net	27,321				27,420				27,321	27,420
Disposal Group, Goodwill					100					100
Assisted Living [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	600,162				591,814				600,162	591,814
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(48,817)				(20,348)				(48,817)	(20,348)
Net	551,345				571,466				551,345	571,466
Disposal Group, Goodwill					28,500					28,500
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	126,810				126,810				126,810	126,810
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	0				0				0	0
Net	126,810				126,810				126,810	126,810
Community Purchase Options [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	4,738				40,270				4,738	40,270
Accumulated Amortization	0				0				0	0
Net	4,738				40,270				4,738	40,270
Asset impairment									28,200
Health Care Licenses [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	65,126				66,612				65,126	66,612
Accumulated Amortization	0				0				0	0
Net	65,126				66,612				65,126	66,612
Asset impairment									1,500
Tradenames [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	27,800				27,800				27,800	27,800
Accumulated Amortization	(21,135)				(14,209)				(21,135)	(14,209)
Net	6,665				13,591				6,665	13,591
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	13,531				13,531				13,531	13,531
Accumulated Amortization	(7,053)				(4,818)				(7,053)	(4,818)
Net	6,478				$ 8,713				6,478	$ 8,713
Exercise of one community purchase option during 2016 [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 7,300								$ 7,300