Accounting Policies (Schedule of VIEs) (Details) - Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
NHP/PMB L.P.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	$ 639,763	$ 645,109
Total Liabilities	199,674	203,235
Ventas Realty Capital Healthcare Trust Operating Partnership, LP
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	2,143,139	2,367,296
Total Liabilities	162,426	233,600
Other identified VIEs
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	1,882,336	1,582,430
Total Liabilities	354,034	431,582
Wexford tax credit VIEs
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	981,752	0
Total Liabilities	$ 234,109	$ 0