CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenue
Revenue	$ 895,969	$ 934,070	$ 1,802,235	$ 1,950,997
Total revenue	1,155,200	1,186,472	2,342,434	2,403,238
Expense
General and administrative expense (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $6,269, $7,246, $14,675, and $15,020, respectively)	60,314	67,090	137,024	132,650
Transaction costs	2,593	3,339	7,318	10,932
Facility lease expense	81,960	84,690	162,360	173,497
Depreciation and amortization	116,116	120,887	230,371	248,374
Goodwill and asset impairment	16,103	1,559	446,466	22,265
Loss on facility lease termination and modification, net	146,467	6,368	146,467	6,368
Total operating expense	1,292,789	1,156,298	2,893,854	2,324,938
Income (loss) from operations	(137,589)	30,174	(551,420)	78,300
Interest income	2,941	804	5,924	1,435
Interest expense:
Debt	(48,967)	(41,517)	(94,694)	(82,090)
Capital and financing lease obligations	(22,389)	(32,228)	(45,320)	(82,087)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt premium (discount)	(2,328)	(2,692)	(6,284)	(5,283)
Change in fair value of derivatives	(217)	(39)	(143)	(85)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs	(9)	(693)	(44)	(754)
Equity in loss of unconsolidated ventures	(1,324)	(4,570)	(5,567)	(3,589)
Gain (loss) on sale of assets, net	23,322	(547)	66,753	(1,150)
Other non-operating income	5,505	2,236	8,091	3,898
Income (loss) before income taxes	(181,055)	(49,072)	(622,704)	(91,405)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	15,546	2,735	(39)	(81,293)
Net income (loss)	(165,509)	(46,337)	(622,743)	(172,698)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	21	50	67	107
Net income (loss) attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders	$ (165,488)	$ (46,287)	$ (622,676)	$ (172,591)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.88)	$ (0.25)	$ (3.33)	$ (0.93)
Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	187,585	186,212	187,234	185,952
Resident fees
Revenue
Revenue	$ 895,969	$ 934,070	$ 1,802,235	$ 1,950,997
Management fees
Revenue
Revenue	17,071	22,442	35,752	38,336
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities
Revenue
Revenue	242,160	229,960	504,447	413,905
Expense
Costs of services	242,160	229,960	504,447	413,905
Facility operating
Expense
Costs of services	$ 627,076	$ 642,405	$ 1,259,401	$ 1,316,947