CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Net real estate investments	$ 18,667,363	$ 17,841,943
Cash and cash equivalents	54,672	67,908	58,530	45,807
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	98,200	105,913
Deferred financing costs, net	55,242	42,551
Investment in and advances to affiliates
Other assets	1,003,881	921,685
Total assets	19,879,358	18,980,000
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	9,413,318	8,413,646
Intercompany loans
Accrued interest	62,176	47,565
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,019,166	995,156
Deferred income taxes	248,369	259,715
Total liabilities	10,743,029	9,716,082
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	171,921	174,555
Total equity	8,964,408	9,089,363		9,355,944
Total liabilities and equity	19,879,358	18,980,000
Ventas, Inc.
Assets
Net real estate investments	7,161	7,615
Cash and cash equivalents	14,018	16,734	10,181	2,335
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	2,104	7,565
Deferred financing costs, net	758	757
Investment in and advances to affiliates	11,713,622	10,343,664
Other assets	49,187	26,282
Total assets	11,786,850	10,402,617
Liabilities:
Intercompany loans	5,299,822	3,425,082
Accounts payable and other liabilities	106,537	99,631
Deferred income taxes	248,369	259,715
Total liabilities	5,654,728	3,784,428
Total equity	6,132,122	6,618,189
Total liabilities and equity	11,786,850	10,402,617
Ventas Realty [Member] [Member]
Assets
Net real estate investments	387,869	412,362
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	1,635	1,952
Deferred financing costs, net	46,514	34,047
Investment in and advances to affiliates	1,867,250	1,867,250
Other assets	7,000	4,043
Total assets	2,310,268	2,319,654
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	6,089,730	4,570,296
Intercompany loans	(5,742,316)	(4,126,391)
Accrued interest	39,457	24,045
Accounts payable and other liabilities	11,038	7,775
Total liabilities	397,909	475,725
Total equity	1,912,359	1,843,929
Total liabilities and equity	2,310,268	2,319,654
Ventas Subsidiaries
Assets
Net real estate investments	18,272,333	17,421,966
Cash and cash equivalents	40,654	51,174	48,349	43,472
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	94,461	96,396
Deferred financing costs, net	7,970	7,747
Other assets	947,694	891,360
Total assets	19,363,112	18,468,643
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	3,323,588	3,843,350
Intercompany loans	442,494	701,309
Accrued interest	22,719	23,520
Accounts payable and other liabilities	901,591	887,750
Total liabilities	4,690,392	5,455,929
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	171,921	174,555
Total equity	14,500,799	12,838,159
Total liabilities and equity	19,363,112	18,468,643
Consolidated Eliminations
Assets
Investment in and advances to affiliates	(13,580,872)	(12,210,914)
Total assets	(13,580,872)	(12,210,914)
Liabilities:
Total equity	(13,580,872)	(12,210,914)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (13,580,872)	$ (12,210,914)