Condensed Consolidating Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Assets
Net real estate investments	$ 17,841,943	$ 16,231,612
Cash and cash equivalents	67,908	45,807	21,812	107,397	107,397
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	105,913	76,590
Deferred financing costs, net	42,551	26,669
Investment in and advances to affiliates	0	0
Other assets	921,685	891,232
Total assets	18,980,000	17,271,910
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	8,413,646	6,429,116
Intercompany loans	0	0
Accrued interest	47,565	37,694
Accounts payable and other liabilities	995,156	1,085,597
Deferred income taxes	259,715	260,722
Total liabilities	9,716,082	7,813,129
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	174,555	102,837
Total equity	9,089,363	9,355,944	2,390,205	2,484,060
Total liabilities and equity	18,980,000	17,271,910
Ventas, Inc.
Assets
Net real estate investments	7,615	309
Cash and cash equivalents	16,734	2,335	1,083	0
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	7,565	1,971
Deferred financing costs, net	757	757
Investment in and advances to affiliates	10,343,664	8,612,893
Other assets	26,282	54,415
Total assets	10,402,617	8,672,680
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	0	0
Intercompany loans	3,425,082	1,204,987
Accrued interest	0	0
Accounts payable and other liabilities	99,631	86,101
Deferred income taxes	259,715	260,722
Total liabilities	3,784,428	1,551,810
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	6,618,189	7,120,870
Total liabilities and equity	10,402,617	8,672,680
Ventas Issuers
Assets
Net real estate investments	412,362	519,042
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	82,886
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	1,952	7,513
Deferred financing costs, net	34,047	19,239
Investment in and advances to affiliates	1,867,251	1,728,635
Other assets	4,043	47,063
Total assets	2,319,655	2,321,492
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	4,570,296	2,593,176
Intercompany loans	(4,126,391)	(2,040,590)
Accrued interest	24,045	12,561
Accounts payable and other liabilities	7,775	18,162
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Total liabilities	475,725	583,309
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	1,843,930	1,738,183
Total liabilities and equity	2,319,655	2,321,492
Ventas Subsidiaries
Assets
Net real estate investments	17,421,966	15,712,261
Cash and cash equivalents	51,174	43,472	20,729	24,511
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	96,396	67,106
Deferred financing costs, net	7,747	6,673
Investment in and advances to affiliates	0	0
Other assets	891,360	789,754
Total assets	18,468,643	16,619,266
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	3,843,350	3,835,940
Intercompany loans	701,309	835,603
Accrued interest	23,520	25,133
Accounts payable and other liabilities	887,750	981,334
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Total liabilities	5,455,929	5,678,010
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	174,555	102,837
Total equity	12,838,159	10,838,419
Total liabilities and equity	18,468,643	16,619,266
Consolidated Elimination
Assets
Net real estate investments	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	0	0
Deferred financing costs, net	0	0
Investment in and advances to affiliates	(12,210,915)	(10,341,528)
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	(12,210,915)	(10,341,528)
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	0	0
Intercompany loans	0	0
Accrued interest	0	0
Accounts payable and other liabilities	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Total liabilities	0	0
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	(12,210,915)	(10,341,528)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (12,210,915)	$ (10,341,528)