Condensed Consolidating Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2008
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 992,816	$ 773,197	$ 447,622
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,169,689)	(997,439)	(301,920)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facilities	84,938	537,452	28,564
Proceeds from debt	2,710,405	1,343,640	597,382
Repayment of debt	(1,193,023)	(1,388,962)	(524,760)
Net change in intercompany debt	0	0	0
Payment of deferred financing costs	(23,770)	(20,040)	(2,694)
Issuance of common stock, net	342,469	299,847	0
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	0	0	0
Cash distribution to common stockholders	(728,546)	(521,046)	(336,085)
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(4,446)	(2,359)	0
Purchases of redeemable OP units	(4,601)	(185)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(5,215)	(2,556)	(8,082)
Other	20,703	2,491	14,223
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,198,914	248,282	(231,452)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	22,041	24,040	(85,750)
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	60	(45)	165
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	45,807	21,812	107,397	107,397
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	67,908	45,807	21,812	107,397
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(761)	124,784	14,092
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,364,125)	(618,663)	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facilities	0	0	0
Proceeds from debt	0	(230,000)	0
Repayment of debt	0	0	0
Net change in intercompany debt	2,151,815	1,363,963	(95,762)
Payment of deferred financing costs	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock, net	342,469	299,847
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	(398,071)	(417,763)	405,433
Cash distribution to common stockholders	(728,546)	(521,046)	(336,085)
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(4,446)	(2,359)
Purchases of redeemable OP units	(4,601)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Other	20,665	2,489	13,405
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,379,285	495,131	(13,009)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	14,399	1,252	1,083
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,335	1,083	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	16,734	2,335	1,083
Ventas Issuers
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	193,544	199,431	213,295
Net cash used in investing activities	(100)	(500,879)	(266,609)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facilities	92,000	405,000	40,000
Proceeds from debt	2,364,360	1,069,374	595,712
Repayment of debt	(521,527)	(206,500)	(244,710)
Net change in intercompany debt	(2,085,801)	(1,559,518)	(26,250)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(21,404)	(19,661)	(2,647)
Issuance of common stock, net	0	0
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	(21,132)	612,798	(391,842)
Cash distribution to common stockholders	0	0	0
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	0	0
Purchases of redeemable OP units	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(193,504)	301,493	(29,737)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(60)	45	(83,051)
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	60	(45)	165
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0	82,886
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0	0
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	800,033	448,982	220,235
Net cash used in investing activities	(805,464)	122,103	(35,311)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facilities	(7,062)	132,452	(11,436)
Proceeds from debt	346,045	504,266	1,670
Repayment of debt	(671,496)	(1,182,462)	(280,050)
Net change in intercompany debt	(66,014)	195,555	122,012
Payment of deferred financing costs	(2,366)	(379)	(47)
Issuance of common stock, net	0	0
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	419,203	(195,035)	(13,591)
Cash distribution to common stockholders	0	0	0
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	0	0
Purchases of redeemable OP units	0	(185)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(5,215)	(2,556)	(8,082)
Other	38	2	818
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	13,133	(548,342)	(188,706)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	7,702	22,743	(3,782)
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	43,472	20,729	24,511
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	51,174	43,472	20,729
Consolidated Elimination
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facilities	0	0	0
Proceeds from debt	0	0	0
Repayment of debt	0	0	0
Net change in intercompany debt	0	0	0
Payment of deferred financing costs	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock, net	0	0
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	0	0	0
Cash distribution to common stockholders	0	0	0
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	0	0
Purchases of redeemable OP units	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0