CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Rental income	$ 353,069		$ 322,950
Resident fees and services	371,061		339,170
Medical office building and other services revenue	6,300		3,648
Income from loans and investments	10,767		16,103
Equity earnings in affiliates
Interest and other income	273		1,038
Total revenues	741,470		682,909
Expenses:
Interest	87,841		78,634
Depreciation and amortization	193,594		175,468
Property-level operating expenses	287,640		267,201
Medical office building services costs	3,371		1,639
General, administrative and professional fees	32,866		28,774
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	(259)		0
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	10,760		4,262
Other	5,229		4,587
Total expenses	621,042		560,565
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	120,428		122,344
Income from unconsolidated entities	248		929
Income tax expense	(3,433)		(1,744)
Income from continuing operations	117,243		121,529
Discontinued operations	3,031		(8,431)
Gain on real estate dispositions, net	1,000		0
Net income	121,274		113,098		454,889
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	227		905
Net income attributable to common stockholders	121,047		112,193
Ventas, Inc.
Revenues:
Rental income	618		640
Income from loans and investments	306		103
Equity earnings in affiliates	126,085		116,077
Interest and other income	152		37
Total revenues	127,161		116,857
Expenses:
Interest	(647)		(467)
Depreciation and amortization	1,422		1,077
General, administrative and professional fees	1,887		(13)
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	(3)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	1,753		2,749
Other	707		40
Total expenses	5,119		3,386
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	122,042		113,471
Income tax expense	(3,433)		(1,745)
Income from continuing operations	118,609		111,726
Discontinued operations	1,438		467
Gain on real estate dispositions, net	1,000
Net income	121,047		112,193
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	121,047		112,193
Ventas Realty
Revenues:
Rental income	69,755	[1]	69,287	[1]
Income from loans and investments			294	[1]
Interest and other income	5	[1]	5	[1]
Total revenues	69,760	[1]	69,586	[1]
Expenses:
Interest	43,094	[1]	32,331	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	7,653	[1]	7,216	[1]
Property-level operating expenses	150	[1]	102	[1]
General, administrative and professional fees	5,613	[1]	5,622	[1]
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	3	[1]
Other	319	[1]	21	[1]
Total expenses	56,832	[1]	45,292	[1]
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	12,928	[1]	24,294	[1]
Income from unconsolidated entities	522	[1]	288	[1]
Income from continuing operations	13,450	[1]	24,582	[1]
Discontinued operations	556	[1]	428	[1]
Gain on real estate dispositions, net	0	[1]
Net income	14,006	[1]	25,010	[1]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	14,006	[1]	25,010	[1]
Ventas Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Rental income	282,696		253,023
Resident fees and services	371,061		339,170
Medical office building and other services revenue	6,300		3,648
Income from loans and investments	10,461		15,706
Equity earnings in affiliates	140		250
Interest and other income	116		996
Total revenues	670,774		612,793
Expenses:
Interest	45,394		46,770
Depreciation and amortization	184,519		167,175
Property-level operating expenses	287,490		267,099
Medical office building services costs	3,371		1,639
General, administrative and professional fees	25,366		23,165
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	(259)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	9,007		1,513
Other	4,203		4,526
Total expenses	559,091		511,887
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	111,683		100,906
Income from unconsolidated entities	(274)		641
Income tax expense			1
Income from continuing operations	111,409		101,548
Discontinued operations	1,037		(9,326)
Gain on real estate dispositions, net	0
Net income	112,446		92,222
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	227		905
Net income attributable to common stockholders	112,219		91,317
Consolidated Eliminations
Revenues:
Equity earnings in affiliates	(126,225)		(116,327)
Total revenues	(126,225)		(116,327)
Expenses:
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	(126,225)		(116,327)
Income from continuing operations	(126,225)		(116,327)
Gain on real estate dispositions, net	0
Net income	(126,225)		(116,327)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ (126,225)		$ (116,327)

[1] Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.