Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ (99,290)	$ 82,019	$ (267,931)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	184,975	183,498	185,907
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	$ 0	$ 888	$ 0
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	184,975	184,386	185,907
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.45	$ (1.44)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.44	$ (1.44)