CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION - Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	$ 150,350	$ 138,566	$ 271,157	$ 259,840	$ 477,186
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation	14,393	7,719	3,521	4,979
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	(6,395)	265	(5,046)	1,571
Other	(2,175)	(193)	(1,416)	46
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	5,823	7,791	(2,941)	6,596	$ (6,538)
Comprehensive income	156,173	146,357	268,216	266,436
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	529	168	894	395
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	155,644	146,189	267,322	266,041
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	149,821	138,398	270,263	259,445
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation	0	0	0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	(6,395)	265	(5,046)	1,571
Other	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(6,395)	265	(5,046)	1,571
Comprehensive income	143,426	138,663	265,217	261,016
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	143,426	138,663	265,217	261,016
Ventas Realty
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	(6,238)	4,817	(14,028)	21,130
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation	0	0	0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	(6,238)	4,817	(14,028)	21,130
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ (6,238)	$ 4,817	$ (14,028)	$ 21,130
Ownership percentage	100.00%		100.00%
Ventas Capital Corporation
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Ownership percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	$ 137,824	$ 127,822	$ 275,894	$ 237,986
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation	14,393	7,719	3,521	4,979
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Other	(2,175)	(193)	(1,416)	46
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	12,218	7,526	2,105	5,025
Comprehensive income	150,042	135,348	277,999	243,011
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	529	168	894	395
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	149,513	135,180	277,105	242,616
Consolidated Eliminations
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	(131,057)	(132,471)	(260,972)	(258,721)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation	0	0	0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	(131,057)	(132,471)	(260,972)	(258,721)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ (131,057)	$ (132,471)	$ (260,972)	$ (258,721)