Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| segment	5
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,216,766	$ 1,263,156
Segment Operating Income	358,279	362,026
General and administrative (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense)	65,560	92,621
Transaction costs	7,593	850
Facility lease expense	88,807	96,689
Depreciation and amortization	127,487	127,137
Asset impairment	20,706	3,375
Income from operations	48,126	41,354
Total assets	8,238,088		$ 9,217,687
Operating Segments [Member] \| Retirement Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	172,620	169,426
Segment Operating Income	74,002	74,449
Total assets	1,301,173		1,452,546
Operating Segments [Member] \| Assisted Living [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	590,537	617,270
Segment Operating Income	217,439	220,810
Total assets	5,271,709		5,831,434
Operating Segments [Member] \| CCRCs Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	141,798	152,260
Segment Operating Income	35,315	35,469
Total assets	783,383		935,389
Operating Segments [Member] \| Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	111,972	122,192
Segment Operating Income	15,629	14,518
Total assets	280,301		280,530
Operating Segments [Member] \| Management Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	199,839	202,008
Segment Operating Income	15,894	$ 16,780
Total assets	$ 601,522		$ 717,788

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

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