CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 477,186us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 454,889us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 361,775us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amounts in discontinued operations)	828,467	769,881	764,775
Amortization of deferred revenue and lease intangibles, net	(18,871)us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization	(15,793)us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization	(17,118)us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization
Other non-cash amortization	(312)	(16,745)	(39,943)
Stock-based compensation	20,994us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	20,653us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	20,784us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Straight-lining of rental income, net	(38,687)us-gaap_StraightLineRent	(30,540)us-gaap_StraightLineRent	(24,042)us-gaap_StraightLineRent
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	5,564	1,048	37,640
Gain on real estate dispositions (including amounts in discontinued operations)	19,183vtr_GainLossonDispositionofRealEstate	3,617vtr_GainLossonDispositionofRealEstate	80,952vtr_GainLossonDispositionofRealEstate
Gain on real estate loan investments	(1,455)	(5,056)	(5,230)
Gain on sale of marketable securities	0	(856)	0
Income tax benefit (including amounts in discontinued operations)	(9,431)us-gaap_OtherTaxExpenseBenefit	(11,828)us-gaap_OtherTaxExpenseBenefit	(6,286)us-gaap_OtherTaxExpenseBenefit
Loss (income) from unconsolidated entities	139	1,748	(1,509)
Gain on re-measurement of equity interest upon acquisition, net	0	(1,241)	(16,645)
Other	15,739us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	8,407us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	10,414us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in other assets	5,317	(690)	3,756
Increase in accrued interest	7,958	6,806	9,969
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and other liabilities	(18,580)	17,689	(24,572)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,254,845	1,194,755	992,816
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net investment in real estate property	(1,468,286)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate	(1,437,002)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate	(1,453,065)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate
Purchase of private investment funds	0	0	(276,419)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(9,115)	(14,331)	(3,934)
Investment in loans receivable and other	(498,992)	(37,963)	(452,558)
Proceeds from real estate disposals	118,246	35,591	149,045
Proceeds from loans receivable	73,557	325,518	43,219
Purchase of marketable securities	(96,689)	0	0
Proceeds from sale or maturity of marketable securities	21,689	5,493	37,500
Funds held in escrow for future development expenditures	4,590	19,458	(28,050)
Development project expenditures	(106,988)	(95,741)	(114,002)
Capital expenditures	(87,454)	(81,614)	(69,430)
Other	(5,598)	(2,169)	(1,995)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,055,040)	(1,282,760)	(2,169,689)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under credit facilities	540,203	(164,029)	84,938
Proceeds from debt	2,007,707us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt	2,767,546us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt	2,710,405us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
Repayment of debt	(1,151,395)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt	(1,792,492)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt	(1,193,023)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfOtherDebt
Payment of deferred financing costs	(14,220)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	(31,277)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	(23,770)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts
Issuance of common stock, net	242,107	141,343	342,469
Cash distribution to common stockholders	(875,614)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(802,123)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(728,546)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(5,762)	(5,040)	(4,446)
Purchases of redeemable OP units	(503)	(659)	(4,601)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	491	2,395	38
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(9,559)us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders	(9,286)us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders	(5,215)us-gaap_PaymentsToMinorityShareholders
Other	24,602	8,618	20,665
Net cash provided by financing activities	758,057	114,996	1,198,914
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(42,138)	26,991	22,041
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	2,670	(83)	60
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	94,816	67,908	45,807
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	55,348	94,816	67,908
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid including swap payments and receipts	361,144us-gaap_InterestPaid	338,311us-gaap_InterestPaid	329,655us-gaap_InterestPaid
Assets and liabilities assumed from acquisitions:
Real Estate Investments	370,741	223,955	582,694
Utilization of funds held for an Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 exchange	0	0	134,003
Other Assets Acquired	15,280	6,635	77,730
Debt assumed	241,076	183,848	412,825
Other Liabilities Assumed	24,039	29,868	70,391
Deferred income tax liability	110,728	5,181	4,299
Noncontrolling interests	0	11,693	34,580
Equity issued	10,178us-gaap_StockIssued1	0us-gaap_StockIssued1	4,326us-gaap_StockIssued1
Debt Transferred on the Sale of Assets	$ 0	$ 0	$ 14,535

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Amount of other income tax expense (benefit).

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The net cash outflow or inflow from other investing activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy.

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The cash outflow for loan and debt issuance costs.

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Cash outflow for purchase of trading, available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities.

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The cash outflow from the acquisition of a piece of land, anything permanently fixed to it, including buildings, structures on it and so forth; includes real estate intended to generate income for the owner; excludes real estate acquired for use by the owner.

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Amount of cash outflow to a noncontrolling interest. Includes, but not limited to, reduction of noncontrolling interest ownership. Excludes dividends paid to the noncontrolling interest.

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The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity.

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The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

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No definition available.

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Amount of cash inflow from a noncontrolling interest. Includes, but is not limited to, purchase of additional shares or other increase in noncontrolling interest ownership.

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The net cash inflow or outflow from other financing activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy.

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The net cash inflow or cash outflow from a contractual arrangement with the lender, including letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a specific amount at any point in time with either short term or long term maturity that is collateralized (backed by pledge, mortgage or other lien in the entity's assets).

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The cash inflow associated with the sale and collection of loans receivables arising from the financing of goods and services.

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The cash inflow associated with the aggregate amount received by the entity through sale or maturity of marketable securities (held-to-maturity or available-for-sale) during the period.

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Cash received from the sale of real estate that is held for investment, that is, it is part of an investing activity during the period.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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The cash outflow for the payment of other borrowing not otherwise defined in the taxonomy.

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The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

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The fair value of stock issued in noncash financing activities.

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Difference between actual rental income due and rental income recognized on a straight-line basis.

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Represents the amount of cash distributions to redeemable OP unitholders.

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Cash used for the purchase of Private Investment Funds

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Change related to Funds Held in Escrow for Future Development

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Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Real Estate

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Represents the gain or loss on remeasurement of equity method investment during the period as a result of acquiring the majority ownership interest of our investment previously accounted for as an equity method investment.

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Non cash adjustment for the gain or loss recognized on loan investments.

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Non cash deferred taxes assumed from acquisitions.

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Noncontrolling interest assets and liabilities assumed from acquisitions.

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Payment for development project expenditures.

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