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Acquisitions, Dispositions and Other Significant Transactions - Welltower Lease and RIDA Venture Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 community	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) lease community	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) lease_portfolio lease community	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments for lease termination				$ 12,548	$ 552
Loss on facility lease termination and modification, net		$ 2,337	$ 4,938	148,804	11,306
Base rent		70,392	84,437	232,752	257,934
Revenue		840,179		2,642,414
Cash lease payments		73,969	90,303	250,677	275,506
Resident fees
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue		840,179	922,892	2,642,414	2,873,889
Facility operating expense
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Costs of services		607,076	650,654	1,866,477	1,967,601
Management fees
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue		18,528	18,138	$ 54,280	56,474
48 Communities Disposed Of Through Lease Terminations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities disposed of \| community				48
Cash lease payments		3,700	18,600	$ 41,400	55,400
48 Communities Disposed Of Through Lease Terminations \| Resident fees
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue		12,000	54,700	123,500	166,600
48 Communities Disposed Of Through Lease Terminations \| Facility operating expense
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Costs of services		8,800	35,400	80,800	104,600
Retirement Centers
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 144,631		$ 462,321
Retirement Centers \| 48 Communities Disposed Of Through Lease Terminations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities leased \| community		8		8
Assisted Living
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 483,125		$ 1,537,432
Assisted Living \| 48 Communities Disposed Of Through Lease Terminations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities leased \| community		39		39
CCRCs Rental
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 104,147		$ 314,012
CCRCs Rental \| 48 Communities Disposed Of Through Lease Terminations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities leased \| community		1		1
Welltower Lease Transactions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities managed \| community				74
Number Of Leases Not Renewed \| lease		2		2
Master Leases Not Renewed, Number Of Communities \| community		11		11
Welltower Lease Transactions \| 37 Communities Disposed Of Through Lease Terminations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities disposed of \| community	37
Loss on facility lease termination and modification, net				$ 22,600
Welltower Inc. \| Welltower Lease Transactions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of lease portfolios \| lease_portfolio				2
Payments for lease termination				$ 58,000
Rent credit, potential future lease terminations				6.25%
Welltower Inc. \| Welltower Lease Transactions, Lease Portfolio Maturing In 2028
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities leased \| community		27		27
Welltower Inc. \| Welltower Lease Transactions, Lease Portfolio Maturing In 2020
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities leased \| community		10		10
Maximum \| Welltower Inc. \| Welltower Lease Transactions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Base rent				$ 5,000
Welltower RIDEA
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage ownership		20.00%		20.00%
Welltower RIDEA \| Welltower Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of equity method investment				$ 33,500
Gain on sale of equity method investment				$ 14,700
15 Communities Managed
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of communities managed \| community				15
15 Communities Managed \| Management fees
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 1,100	$ 1,100	$ 3,300	$ 3,300