For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 18
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393423&loc=d3e6351-108592

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109250915&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109250915&loc=d3e13537-108611

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393423&loc=d3e6404-108592

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Term of lessor's operating lease renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888428&loc=SL77919359-209981

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of income (expense) included in net income that results in no cash inflow (outflow), classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash received for fees during the current period. This element excludes cash proceeds from license fees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromFeesReceived
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Master leases

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_Masterleases
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of properties sold by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Options to Extend

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_OptionstoExtend
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=vtr_SkilledNursingFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MajorCustomersAxis=vtr_BrookdaleSeniorLivingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=us-gaap_RevenueFromRightsConcentrationRiskMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=vtr_NetOperatingIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MajorCustomersAxis=vtr_ArdentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MajorCustomersAxis=vtr_KindredMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Concentration of Credit Risk - Triple-Net Leased Properties (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($) period Lease	Aug. 31, 2017 property	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Real estate properties
Other noncash expense					$ (3,720)	$ (4,624)	$ 1,847
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Real estate properties
Number of real estate properties sold \| property				22
Brookdale Senior Living
Real estate properties
Proceeds from fees received			$ 2,500
Master leases \| Lease			1
Options to extend term of lease \| period			2
Lease renewal term			10 years
Other noncash expense			$ (21,300)
Brookdale Senior Living \| Revenues
Real estate properties
Concentration risk					4.30%	4.70%	4.80%
Brookdale Senior Living \| Net Operating Income
Real estate properties
Concentration risk					7.60%	8.00%	8.30%
Ardent
Real estate properties
Proceeds from fees received		$ 14,000
Ardent \| Revenues
Real estate properties
Concentration risk					3.10%	3.10%	3.10%
Ardent \| Net Operating Income
Real estate properties
Concentration risk					5.70%	5.30%	5.30%
Kindred
Real estate properties
Proceeds from fees received	$ 12,300
Kindred \| Skilled Nursing Facilities
Real estate properties
Number of real estate properties sold \| property						36
Kindred \| Revenues
Real estate properties
Concentration risk					3.50%	4.60%	5.40%
Kindred \| Net Operating Income
Real estate properties
Concentration risk					6.40%	7.90%	9.20%