Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| segment			5
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,186,472	$ 1,258,830	$ 2,403,238	$ 2,521,986
Segment Operating Income	314,107	379,651	672,386	741,677
General and administrative (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense)	67,090	90,695	132,650	183,316
Transaction costs	3,339	441	10,932	1,291
Facility lease expense	84,690	92,682	173,497	189,371
Depreciation and amortization	120,887	133,394	248,374	260,531
Asset impairment	1,559	4,152	22,265	7,527
Loss on facility lease termination	6,368	0	6,368	0
Income from operations	30,174	58,287	78,300	99,641
Total assets	8,192,792		8,192,792		$ 9,217,687
Operating Segments [Member] \| Retirement Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	162,248	169,990	334,868	339,416
Segment Operating Income	67,297	74,754	141,299	149,203
Total assets	1,286,639		1,286,639		1,452,546
Operating Segments [Member] \| Assisted Living [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	547,430	613,017	1,137,967	1,230,287
Segment Operating Income	186,921	234,085	404,360	454,895
Total assets	5,210,068		5,210,068		5,831,434
Operating Segments [Member] \| CCRCs Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	114,202	148,225	256,000	300,485
Segment Operating Income	24,344	33,594	59,659	69,063
Total assets	721,810		721,810		935,389
Operating Segments [Member] \| Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	110,190	123,336	222,162	245,528
Segment Operating Income	13,103	19,032	28,732	33,550
Total assets	279,415		279,415		280,530
Operating Segments [Member] \| Management Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	252,402	204,262	452,241	406,270
Segment Operating Income	22,442	$ 18,186	38,336	$ 34,966
Total assets	$ 694,860		$ 694,860		$ 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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