CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue
Revenue	$ 3,449,211
Total revenue	4,531,426	$ 4,747,116	$ 4,976,980
Expense
General and administrative expense (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $26,067, $27,832 and $32,285, respectively)	250,495	255,446	313,409
Transaction costs	8,980	22,573	3,990
Facility lease expense	303,294	339,721	373,635
Depreciation and amortization	447,455	482,077	520,402
Goodwill and asset impairment	489,893	409,782	248,515
Loss on facility lease termination and modification, net	162,001	14,276	11,113
Total operating expense	5,125,675	5,017,161	5,008,063
Income (loss) from operations	(594,249)	(270,045)	(31,083)
Interest income	9,846	4,623	2,933
Interest expense:
Debt	(188,505)	(172,635)	(174,027)
Capital and financing lease obligations	(83,604)	(140,664)	(202,012)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	(7,757)	(12,681)	(9,400)
Change in fair value of derivatives	(403)	(174)	(178)
Debt modification and extinguishment costs	(11,677)	(12,409)	(9,170)
Equity in (loss) earnings of unconsolidated ventures	(8,804)	(14,827)	1,660
Gain on sale of assets, net	293,246	19,273	7,218
Other non-operating income	14,099	11,418	14,801
Income (loss) before income taxes	(577,808)	(588,121)	(399,258)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	49,456	16,515	(5,378)
Net income (loss)	(528,352)	(571,606)	(404,636)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	94	187	239
Net income (loss) attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders	$ (528,258)	$ (571,419)	$ (404,397)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (2.82)	$ (3.07)	$ (2.18)
Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share (in shares)	187,468	186,155	185,653
Resident fees
Revenue
Revenue	$ 3,449,211	$ 3,780,140	$ 4,168,621
Management fees
Revenue
Revenue	71,986	75,845	70,762
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities
Revenue
Revenue	1,010,229	891,131	737,597
Expense
Costs incurred	1,010,229	891,131	737,597
Facility operating expense
Expense
Costs incurred	$ 2,453,328	$ 2,602,155	$ 2,799,402