CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Total revenue and other operating income	$ 3,194,066	$ 3,125,487	$ 3,015,829
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
Facility operating expense (excluding facility depreciation and amortization of $336,897, $330,664, and $317,581, respectively)	2,216,016	2,183,261	2,129,800
General and administrative expense (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $11,937, $14,184, and $11,985, respectively)	195,141	185,850	178,894
Facility operating lease expense	200,263	200,587	202,410
Depreciation and amortization	355,527	357,788	342,712
Asset impairment	71,349	8,557	40,572
Loss (gain) on sale of communities, net	(2,368)	0	(36,296)
Loss (gain) on facility operating lease termination, net	4,139	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	13,498	46,528	18,412
Interest income	12,382	19,162	23,146
Interest expense:
Debt	(227,540)	(215,525)	(209,772)
Financing lease obligations	(10,797)	(27,761)	(21,950)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(14,775)	(9,723)	(7,696)
Change in fair value of derivatives	(1,180)	434	1,144
Gain (loss) on debt modification and extinguishment, net	(40,087)	(20,762)	(2,702)
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures	0	0	(3,996)
Non-operating gain (loss) on sale of assets, net	0	923	1,441
Other non-operating income (loss)	3,802	9,376	21,687
Income (loss) before income taxes	(264,697)	(197,348)	(180,286)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	1,951	(4,646)	(8,784)
Net income (loss)	(262,746)	(201,994)	(189,070)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	54	59	59
Net income (loss) attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders	$ (262,692)	$ (201,935)	$ (189,011)
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)	$ (1.12)	$ (0.89)	$ (0.84)
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Brookdale Senior Living Inc. common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.12)	$ (0.89)	$ (0.84)
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)	235,177	227,525	225,209
Weighted average shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	235,177	227,525	225,209
Resident fees
Total revenue and other operating income	$ 3,042,712	$ 2,972,050	$ 2,857,270
Management fees
Total revenue and other operating income	10,853	10,521	10,161
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities
Total revenue and other operating income	140,501	142,916	139,325
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
Costs incurred on behalf of managed communities	140,501	142,916	139,325
Other operating income
Total revenue and other operating income	0	0	9,073
Facility operating expense
Cost of Revenue [Abstract]
Facility operating expense (excluding facility depreciation and amortization of $336,897, $330,664, and $317,581, respectively)	$ 2,216,016	$ 2,183,261	$ 2,129,800