CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Par Value	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Income)	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Total Ventas Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning 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	1,361,112	0	0	0	1,356,470	0	1,356,470	4,642
Other comprehensive income (loss)	22,414	0	0	22,414	0	0	22,414	0
Impact of CCP Spin-Off	107	0	107	0	0	0	107	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(14,719)	0	(1,427)	0	0	0	(1,427)	(13,292)
Dividends to common stockholders	(1,109,473)	0	0	0	(1,109,473)	0	(1,109,473)	0
Issuance of common stock	73,447	276	72,618	0	0	553	73,447	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	22,606	87	21,723	0	0	796	22,606	0
Change in redeemable noncontrolling interests	5,246	0	(850)	0	0	0	(850)	6,096
Adjust redeemable OP Unitholder Interests to current fair value	253	0	253	0	0	0	253	0
Redemption of OP Units	23,136	84	19,845	0	0	3,207	23,136	0
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	19,303	68	23,786	0	0	(4,551)	19,303	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	10,932,185	89,029	13,053,057	(35,120)	(2,240,698)	(42)	10,866,226	65,959
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Cumulative effect change in accounting principles	30,643	0	0	0	30,643	0	30,643	0
Net income	80,098	0	0	0	78,703	0	78,703	1,395
Other comprehensive income (loss)	20,646	0	0	20,646	0	0	20,646	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(3,355)	0	770	0	0	0	770	(4,125)
Dividends to common stockholders	(282,088)	0	0	0	(282,088)	0	(282,088)	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans and other	1,161	1	1,160	0	0	0	1,161	0
Adjust redeemable OP Unitholder Interests to current fair value	23,537	0	23,537	0	0	0	23,537	0
Redemption of OP Units	(127)	0	(361)	0	0	234	(127)	0
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	1,344	32	2,057	0	0	(745)	1,344	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 10,804,044	$ 89,062	$ 13,080,220	$ (14,474)	$ (2,413,440)	$ (553)	$ 10,740,815	$ 63,229