Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| segment			5
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,177,988	$ 1,246,126	$ 3,581,226	$ 3,768,112
Segment Operating Income	290,376	354,142	962,762	1,095,819
General and administrative (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense)	63,779	63,425	196,429	246,741
Transaction costs	1,992	659	12,924	1,950
Facility lease expense	84,437	92,519	257,934	281,890
Depreciation and amortization	117,649	130,783	366,023	391,314
Goodwill and asset impairment			390,816	26,638
Loss on facility lease termination	4,938	0	11,306	0
Income (loss) from operations	(350,970)	47,645	(272,670)	147,286
Total assets	8,092,166		8,092,166		$ 9,217,687
Operating Segments [Member] \| Retirement Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	161,986	170,706	496,854	510,122
Segment Operating Income	65,907	73,112	207,206	222,315
Total assets	1,275,250		1,275,250		1,452,546
Operating Segments [Member] \| Assisted Living [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	542,227	607,345	1,680,194	1,837,632
Segment Operating Income	173,576	217,878	577,936	672,773
Total assets	4,830,074		4,830,074		5,831,434
Operating Segments [Member] \| CCRCs Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	108,075	147,517	364,075	448,002
Segment Operating Income	22,932	32,996	82,591	102,059
Total assets	696,964		696,964		935,389
Operating Segments [Member] \| Brookdale Ancillary Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	110,604	117,263	332,766	362,791
Segment Operating Income	9,823	14,624	38,555	48,174
Total assets	261,919		261,919		280,530
Operating Segments [Member] \| Management Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	255,096	203,295	707,337	609,565
Segment Operating Income	18,138	$ 15,532	56,474	$ 50,498
Total assets	$ 1,027,959		$ 1,027,959		$ 717,788

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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