Revenue - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 840,179	$ 2,642,414
Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	682,408	2,160,929
Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	129,075	395,407
Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	28,696	86,078
Retirement Centers
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	144,631	462,321
Retirement Centers | Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	143,963	459,875
Retirement Centers | Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	668	2,446
Retirement Centers | Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Assisted Living
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	483,125	1,537,432
Assisted Living | Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	464,719	1,482,789
Assisted Living | Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	18,406	54,643
Assisted Living | Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
CCRCs Rental
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	104,147	314,012
CCRCs Rental | Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	73,567	217,680
CCRCs Rental | Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	20,901	65,986
CCRCs Rental | Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	9,679	30,346
Brookdale Ancillary Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	108,276	328,649
Brookdale Ancillary Services | Private pay
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	159	585
Brookdale Ancillary Services | Government reimbursement
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	89,100	272,332
Brookdale Ancillary Services | Other third-party payor programs
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 19,017	$ 55,732