CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenue	$ 3,015,829	$ 2,825,379	$ 2,758,259
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
General and administrative expense (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $11,985, $14,466, and $16,270, respectively)	178,894	168,594	184,916
Facility operating lease expense	202,410	165,294	174,358
Depreciation and amortization	342,712	347,444	337,613
Asset impairment	40,572	29,618	23,003
Loss (gain) on sale of communities, net	(36,296)	(73,850)	0
Loss (gain) on facility operating lease termination, net	0	0	(2,003)
Income (loss) from operations	18,412	(42,687)	(216,936)
Interest income	23,146	6,935	1,349
Interest expense:
Debt	(209,772)	(157,869)	(141,409)
Financing lease obligations	(21,950)	(48,061)	(46,282)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(7,696)	(6,446)	(7,297)
Change in fair value of derivatives	1,144	7,659	(152)
Gain (loss) on debt modification and extinguishment, net	(2,702)	(1,357)	(1,932)
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures	(3,996)	(10,782)	10,394
Non-operating gain (loss) on sale of assets, net	1,441	595	288,835
Other non-operating income (loss)	21,687	12,114	5,903
Income (loss) before income taxes	(180,286)	(239,899)	(107,527)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(8,784)	1,559	8,163
Net income (loss)	(189,070)	(238,340)	(99,364)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	59	(87)	74
Net income (loss) attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders	$ (189,011)	$ (238,427)	$ (99,290)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.84)	$ (1.25)	$ (0.54)
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.84)	$ (1.25)	$ (0.54)
Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
Weighted average shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per share (in shares)	225,209	190,463	184,975
Weighted average shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	225,209	190,463	184,975
Resident fees
Revenue	$ 2,857,270	$ 2,585,529	$ 2,543,848
Management fees
Revenue	10,161	12,020	20,598
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities
Revenue	139,325	147,361	181,445
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
Costs incurred	139,325	147,361	181,445
Other operating income
Revenue	9,073	80,469	12,368
Facility operating expense
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
Costs incurred	$ 2,129,800	$ 2,083,605	$ 2,075,863