Revenue - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 895,969	$ 934,070	$ 1,802,235	$ 1,950,997
Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	735,760	767,180	1,478,521	1,603,524
Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	131,093	141,846	266,332	294,795
Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	29,116	25,044	57,382	52,678
Retirement Centers
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	159,293	162,248	317,690	334,868
Retirement Centers | Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	158,405	161,362	315,912	332,979
Retirement Centers | Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	888	886	1,778	1,889
Retirement Centers | Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Assisted Living
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	522,027	547,430	1,054,307	1,137,967
Assisted Living | Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	503,806	528,516	1,018,070	1,098,469
Assisted Living | Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	18,221	18,914	36,237	39,498
Assisted Living | Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
CCRCs Rental
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	104,796	114,202	209,865	256,000
CCRCs Rental | Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	73,392	77,116	144,113	171,739
CCRCs Rental | Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	21,379	26,283	45,085	59,111
CCRCs Rental | Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	10,025	10,803	20,667	25,150
Brookdale Ancillary Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	109,853	110,190	220,373	222,162
Brookdale Ancillary Services | Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	157	186	426	337
Brookdale Ancillary Services | Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	90,605	95,763	183,232	194,297
Brookdale Ancillary Services | Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 19,091	$ 14,241	$ 36,715	$ 27,528