Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Information [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | Segment										5
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 1,208,868	$ 1,246,126	$ 1,258,830	$ 1,263,156	$ 1,235,702	$ 1,238,841	$ 1,238,184	$ 1,247,881	$ 4,976,980	$ 4,960,608	$ 3,831,706
Segment operating income										1,439,981	1,448,448	1,133,168
General and administrative (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense)										313,409	370,579	280,267
Transaction costs										3,990	8,252	66,949
Facility lease expense										373,635	367,574	323,830
Depreciation and amortization										520,402	733,165	537,035
Asset impairment		221,877	19,111	4,152	3,375	57,941	0	0	0	248,515	57,941	9,992
Loss on facility lease termination										11,113	76,143	0
Income (loss) from operations		(178,369)	$ 47,645	$ 58,287	$ 41,354	(8,873)	$ 3,663	$ (43,123)	$ (116,873)	(31,083)	(165,206)	(84,905)
Total interest expense										385,617	388,764	248,188
Total expenditures for property, plan and equipment, and leasehold improvements										300,113	448,682	304,245
Assets by segment		9,217,687				10,048,564				9,217,687	10,048,564
Retirement Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[1]									679,503	657,940	582,312
Segment operating income	[2]									294,530	285,257	248,883
Facility lease expense										120,272	114,738	98,321
Depreciation and amortization										94,049	104,063	86,188
Total interest expense										56,827	58,397	41,906
Total expenditures for property, plan and equipment, and leasehold improvements										59,978	161,986	76,285
Assets by segment		1,452,546				1,556,169				1,452,546	1,556,169
Assisted Living [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[1]									2,419,459	2,445,457	1,685,563
Segment operating income	[2]									876,817	877,303	608,489
Facility lease expense										193,670	197,452	162,575
Depreciation and amortization										308,639	489,933	317,918
Total interest expense										249,449	250,116	140,001
Total expenditures for property, plan and equipment, and leasehold improvements										156,732	220,893	107,037
Assets by segment		5,831,434				6,354,415				5,831,434	6,354,415
CCRCs Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[1]									592,826	604,572	493,173
Segment operating income	[2]									133,409	150,495	121,661
Facility lease expense										51,727	47,937	51,523
Depreciation and amortization										66,431	87,754	60,175
Total interest expense										39,824	39,502	28,418
Total expenditures for property, plan and equipment, and leasehold improvements										37,800	54,864	42,412
Assets by segment		935,389				1,037,384				935,389	1,037,384
CCRCs Entry Fee [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[1]									0	0	202,414
Segment operating income	[2]									0	0	48,433
Facility lease expense										0	0	4,362
Depreciation and amortization										0	0	37,524
Total interest expense										0	0	7,530
Total expenditures for property, plan and equipment, and leasehold improvements										0	0	36,575
Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[1]									476,833	469,158	337,835
Segment operating income	[2]									64,463	75,210	63,463
Facility lease expense										0	0	890
Depreciation and amortization										4,075	7,451	4,764
Total interest expense										1,461	1,354	823
Total expenditures for property, plan and equipment, and leasehold improvements										1,576	4,061	1,805
Assets by segment		280,530				292,540				280,530	292,540
Management Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	[1],[3]									808,359	783,481	530,409
Segment operating income	[2]									70,762	60,183	42,239
Facility lease expense										7,966	7,447	6,159
Depreciation and amortization										47,208	43,964	30,466
Total interest expense										38,056	39,395	29,510
Total expenditures for property, plan and equipment, and leasehold improvements										44,027	6,878	$ 40,131
Assets by segment		$ 717,788				$ 808,056				$ 717,788	$ 808,056

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

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

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