CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	$ 114,533	$ 73,736	$ 227,631	$ 163,828	$ 361,775
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(2,722)	(1,607)	(4,813)	342
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(868)	(403)	(807)	(711)
Other	1,514	(512)	2,018	(289)
Total other comprehensive loss	(2,076)	(2,522)	(3,602)	(658)	1,292
Comprehensive income	112,457	71,214	224,029	163,170
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(47)	(289)	858	(823)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	112,504	71,503	223,171	163,993
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	114,580	74,025	226,773	164,651
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(868)	(403)
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	(868)	(403)	(807)	(711)
Comprehensive income	113,712	73,622	225,966	163,940
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	113,712	73,622	225,966	163,940
Ventas Issuers
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	22,269	17,154	47,281	21,889
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive loss			0	0
Comprehensive income	22,269	17,154	47,281	21,889
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	22,269	17,154	47,281	21,889
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	83,042	34,331	175,253	90,285
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(2,722)	(1,607)
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other	1,514	(512)	2,018	(289)
Total other comprehensive loss	(1,208)	(2,119)	(2,795)	53
Comprehensive income	81,834	32,212	172,458	90,338
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest			858	(823)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	81,881	32,501	171,600	91,161
Consolidated Eliminations
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	(105,358)	(51,774)	(221,676)	(112,997)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive loss			0	0
Comprehensive income	(105,358)	(51,774)	(221,676)	(112,997)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ (105,358)	$ (51,774)	$ (221,676)	$ (112,997)