CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue	$ 2,825,379	$ 2,758,259	$ 3,540,195
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
General and administrative expense (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $14,466, $16,270, and $20,747, respectively)	168,594	184,916	206,575
Facility operating lease expense	165,294	174,358	224,033
Depreciation and amortization	347,444	337,613	359,226
Asset impairment	29,618	23,003	107,308
Loss (gain) on sale of communities, net	(73,850)	0	0
Loss (gain) on facility operating lease termination, net	0	(2,003)	(2,303)
Income (loss) from operations	(42,687)	(216,936)	(97,692)
Interest income	6,935	1,349	4,799
Interest expense:
Debt	(157,869)	(141,409)	(153,817)
Financing lease obligations	(48,061)	(46,282)	(48,534)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(6,446)	(7,297)	(6,203)
Change in fair value of derivatives	7,659	(152)	(225)
Gain (loss) on debt modification and extinguishment, net	(1,357)	(1,932)	10,896
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures	(10,782)	10,394	(2,107)
Non-operating gain (loss) on sale of assets, net	595	288,835	374,532
Other non-operating income (loss)	12,114	5,903	5,648
Income (loss) before income taxes	(239,899)	(107,527)	87,297
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	1,559	8,163	(5,352)
Net income (loss)	(238,340)	(99,364)	81,945
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(87)	74	74
Net income (loss) attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders	$ (238,427)	$ (99,290)	$ 82,019
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.25)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.45
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.25)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.44
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	190,463	184,975	183,498
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	190,463	184,975	184,386
Resident fees
Revenue	$ 2,585,529	$ 2,543,848	$ 2,892,567
Management fees
Revenue	12,020	20,598	130,690
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities
Revenue	147,361	181,445	401,189
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
Costs incurred	147,361	181,445	401,189
Other operating income
Revenue	80,469	12,368	115,749
Facility operating expense
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
Costs incurred	$ 2,083,605	$ 2,075,863	$ 2,341,859