CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Rental income	$ 324,909	$ 267,540
Resident fees and services	339,170	285,193
Medical office building and other services revenues	3,648	5,608
Income from loans and investments	16,103	8,036
Equity earnings in affiliates
Interest and other income	1,038	47
Total revenues	684,868	566,424
Expenses:
Interest	79,600	68,130
Depreciation and amortization	179,017	160,421
Property-level operating expenses	267,449	215,837
Medical office building services costs	1,639	2,988
General, administrative and professional fees	28,774	22,198
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	0	29,544
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	4,262	7,981
Other	4,587	1,576
Total expenses	565,328	508,675
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	119,540	57,749
Income from unconsolidated entities	929	317
Income tax expense	(1,744)	(11,338)
Income from continuing operations	118,725	46,728
Discontinued operations	(5,627)	43,364
Net income	113,098	90,092	361,775
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	905	(534)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	112,193	90,626
Ventas, Inc.
Revenues:
Rental income	641	623
Income from loans and investments	103	939
Equity earnings in affiliates	116,075	61,178
Interest and other income	37	29
Total revenues	116,856	62,769
Expenses:
Interest	(467)	(724)
Depreciation and amortization	1,077	709
General, administrative and professional fees	(13)	903
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	2,749	1,365
Other	40	37
Total expenses	3,386	2,290
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	113,470	60,479
Income tax expense	(1,744)	(11,338)
Income from continuing operations	111,726	49,141
Discontinued operations	467	41,485
Net income	112,193	90,626
Net income attributable to common stockholders	112,193	90,626
Ventas Issuers
Revenues:
Rental income	69,733	67,435
Income from loans and investments	294	469
Interest and other income	5	5
Total revenues	70,032	67,909
Expenses:
Interest	32,526	21,120
Depreciation and amortization	7,432	7,631
Property-level operating expenses	102	123
General, administrative and professional fees	5,622	6,997
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net		29,731
Other	21
Total expenses	45,703	65,602
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	24,329	2,307
Income from unconsolidated entities	287	317
Income from continuing operations	24,616	2,624
Discontinued operations	395	2,111
Net income	25,011	4,735
Net income attributable to common stockholders	25,011	4,735
Ventas Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Rental income	254,535	199,482
Resident fees and services	339,170	285,193
Medical office building and other services revenues	3,648	5,608
Income from loans and investments	15,706	6,628
Equity earnings in affiliates	250	47
Interest and other income	996	13
Total revenues	614,305	496,971
Expenses:
Interest	47,541	47,734
Depreciation and amortization	170,508	152,081
Property-level operating expenses	267,347	215,714
Medical office building services costs	1,639	2,988
General, administrative and professional fees	23,165	14,298
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net		(187)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	1,513	6,616
Other	4,526	1,539
Total expenses	516,239	440,783
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	98,066	56,188
Income from unconsolidated entities	642
Income from continuing operations	98,708	56,188
Discontinued operations	(6,489)	(232)
Net income	92,219	55,956
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	905	(534)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	91,314	56,490
Consolidated Eliminations
Revenues:
Equity earnings in affiliates	(116,325)	(61,225)
Total revenues	(116,325)	(61,225)
Expenses:
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	(116,325)	(61,225)
Income from continuing operations	(116,325)	(61,225)
Net income	(116,325)	(61,225)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ (116,325)	$ (61,225)