Condensed Consolidating Information (Comprehensive Income Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 419,222	$ 477,001	$ 454,669
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation	(14,792)	(17,153)	(5,422)
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(5,047)	7,001	(1,023)
Other	(847)	3,614	2,750
Total other comprehensive loss	(20,686)	(6,538)	(3,695)
Comprehensive income	398,536	470,463	450,974
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,379	1,234	1,160
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	397,157	469,229	449,814
Consolidated Elimination
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(459,545)	(480,466)	(450,348)
Other comprehensive loss:
Comprehensive income	(459,545)	(480,466)	(450,348)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	(459,545)	(480,466)	(450,348)
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	417,843	475,767	453,509
Other comprehensive loss:
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(5,047)	7,001	(1,023)
Total other comprehensive loss	(5,047)	7,001	(1,023)
Comprehensive income	412,796	482,768	452,486
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	412,796	482,768	452,486
Ventas Realty
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(64,859)	19,826	72,642
Other comprehensive loss:
Comprehensive income	(64,859)	19,826	72,642
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ (64,859)	19,826	72,642
Ownership percentage	100.00%
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 525,783	461,874	378,866
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation	(14,792)	(17,153)	(5,422)
Other	(847)	3,614	2,750
Total other comprehensive loss	(15,639)	(13,539)	(2,672)
Comprehensive income	510,144	448,335	376,194
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,379	1,234	1,160
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ 508,765	$ 447,101	$ 375,034
Ownership percentage				100.00%
Ventas Capital Corporation
Other comprehensive loss:
Ownership percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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