CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Par Value	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Total Ventas Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 9,625,427	$ 83,579	$ 11,602,838	$ (7,565)	$ (2,111,958)	$ (2,567)	$ 9,564,327	$ 61,100
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income	651,490	0	0	0	649,231	0	649,231	2,259
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(49,969)	0	0	(49,969)	0	0	(49,969)	0
Impact of CCP Spin-Off	640	0	640	0	0	0	640	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	16,829	0	(2,179)	0	0	0	(2,179)	19,008
Dividends to common stockholders	(1,024,968)	0	0	0	(1,024,968)	0	(1,024,968)	0
Issuance of common stock	1,286,680	4,716	1,281,947	0	0	17	1,286,680	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	29,265	99	26,594	0	0	2,572	29,265	0
Change in redeemable noncontrolling interests	(15,568)	0	(1,714)	0	0	0	(1,714)	(13,854)
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(21,085)	0	(21,085)	0	0	0	(21,085)	0
Redemption of OP units	23,812	92	22,622	0	0	1,098	23,812	0
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	6,200	28	7,339	0	0	(1,167)	6,200	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	10,528,753	88,514	12,917,002	(57,534)	(2,487,695)	(47)	10,460,240	68,513
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income	967,307	0	0	0	963,916	0	963,916	3,391
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	16,754	0	0	16,754	0	0	16,754	0
Impact of CCP Spin-Off	93	0	93	0	0	0	93	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(12,450)	0	(1,427)	0	0	0	(1,427)	(11,023)
Dividends to common stockholders	(827,651)	0	0	0	(827,651)	0	(827,651)	0
Issuance of common stock	73,551	276	72,723	0	0	552	73,551	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	20,774	84	20,265	0	0	425	20,774	0
Change in redeemable noncontrolling interests	6,435	0	412	0	0	0	412	6,023
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(12,030)	0	(12,030)	0	0	0	(12,030)	0
Redemption of OP units	22,764	81	19,900	0	0	2,783	22,764	0
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	13,944	68	17,589	0	0	(3,713)	13,944	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 10,798,244	$ 89,023	$ 13,034,527	$ (40,780)	$ (2,351,430)	$ 0	$ 10,731,340	$ 66,904