DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013 property
Real estate properties
Number of real estate properties	1,500
Number of states	46
Number of Canadian provinces	2
Number of properties leased	910
Seniors housing communities
Real estate properties
Number of independent third party managed properties	237
Development Projects
Real estate properties
Number of real estate properties	3
Kindred
Real estate properties
Number of properties leased	143
Brookdale Senior Living
Real estate properties
Number of properties leased	145
Number of properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities	(6)
Seniors Housing Communities \| Senior Living Operations \| Dispositions 2013 [Member]
Real estate properties
Number of Real Estate Properties Sold	1

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of properties that are managed by the independent third party.

No definition available.

Name:	vtr_NumberOfIndependentThirdPartyManagedProperties
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of Properties Included in Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

No definition available.

Name:	vtr_NumberOfPropertiesIncludedInInvestmentsInUnconsolidatedEntities
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of properties owned that are leased to unaffiliated tenants under triple-net lease terms.

No definition available.

Name:	vtr_NumberOfPropertiesLeasedUnderTripleNetLeases
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of provinces in which the entity operates as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	vtr_NumberOfProvincesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of properties sold by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	vtr_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration