Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

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-Publisher FASB

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- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Gross amount of debt extinguished.

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Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

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The cash inflow from a borrowing with the highest claim on the assets of the entity in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer).

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Debt Instrument, Term, Additional Period

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Debt Instrument, Weighted Average Duration of Maturity

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Public offering price as a percent of par.

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SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT - Narrative (Details)	1 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 CAD	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	May. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Debt instruments
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net						$ 15,331,000	$ 2,414,000	$ 14,897,000	$ 5,079,000
Percentage of redemption price	100.70%
Unsecured revolving credit facilities
Debt instruments
Line of credit facility, current borrowing capacity	$ 2,000,000,000.0					2,000,000,000.0		$ 2,000,000,000.0
Debt instrument, additional period								1 year
Amount outstanding	114,100,000					114,100,000		$ 114,100,000
Letters of credit outstanding	14,900,000					14,900,000		14,900,000
Unused borrowing capacity available	1,900,000,000					1,900,000,000		$ 1,900,000,000
Unsecured revolving credit facilities \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate								1.00%
Unsecured Term Loan Due 2018
Debt instruments
Line of credit facility, current borrowing capacity	200,000,000.0					200,000,000.0		$ 200,000,000.0
Debt instrument, term of loan (in years)								4 years
Unsecured Term Loan Due 2018 \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate								1.05%
Unsecured Term Loan Due 2019
Debt instruments
Line of credit facility, current borrowing capacity	800,000,000.0					800,000,000.0		$ 800,000,000.0
Debt instrument, term of loan (in years)								5 years
Unsecured Term Loan Due 2019 \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate								1.05%
Unsecured Debt
Debt instruments
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity (up to $3.5 billion)	3,500,000,000.0					$ 3,500,000,000.0		$ 3,500,000,000.0
Unsecured Debt \| Unsecured Term Loan Due 2019
Debt instruments
Extinguishment of debt amount		$ 305,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	2,900,000	$ 1,600,000
Unsecured term loan due 2020
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, term of loan (in years)		5 years
Unsecured term loan due 2020 \| LIBOR
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate		97.50%
Senior Notes \| 3.500% Senior Notes due 2025
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, face amount											$ 600,000,000.0
Interest rate (as a percent)				3.50%							3.50%
Public offering price as a percent of par				99.663%							99.663%
Proceeds from issuance of senior long-term debt					$ 598,000,000
Senior Notes \| 4.375% Senior Notes due 2045
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, face amount											$ 300,000,000.0
Interest rate (as a percent)				4.375%							4.375%
Public offering price as a percent of par				99.50%							99.50%
Proceeds from issuance of senior long-term debt					$ 298,500,000
Senior Notes \| 6% Senior Notes due 2015
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, face amount										$ 234,400,000.0
Interest rate (as a percent)										6.00%
Senior Notes \| Ventas Canada Finance Limited Series C Senior Notes, Due 2022 \| Ventas Canada Finance Limited
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, face amount \| CAD				CAD 250,000,000.0
Interest rate (as a percent)				3.30%							3.30%
Public offering price as a percent of par				99.992%							99.992%
Proceeds from issuance of senior long-term debt \| CAD				CAD 250,000,000
Senior Notes \| 4.125% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 500,000,000.0
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.125%
Public offering price as a percent of par			99.218%
Proceeds from issuance of senior long-term debt			$ 496,100,000
Senior Notes \| 3.125% Senior Notes due 2015
Debt instruments
Extinguishment of debt amount	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.125%					3.125%		3.125%
Loans Payable \| Unsecured term loan due 2020
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 900,000,000
Mortgages
Debt instruments
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 366,800,000					$ 366,800,000		$ 366,800,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net								$ 10,400,000
Weighted average maturity (in years)								2 years 4 months 24 days