CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Par Value	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Total Ventas Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 10,545,452	$ 93,185	$ 14,056,453	$ (34,564)	$ (3,669,050)	$ (132)	$ 10,445,892	$ 99,560
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income attributable to common stockholders	473,117	0	0	0	473,117	0	473,117
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,613							1,613
Net income	474,730
Other comprehensive income	(78,826)	0	0	(68,844)	0	0	(68,844)	(9,982)
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(6,975)	0	761	0	0	0	761	(7,736)
Dividends to common stockholders	(296,482)	0	0	0	(296,482)	0	(296,482)	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangements, Restricted Stock Awards and Other, after Forfeiture	10,949	71	10,894	0	719	(735)	10,949	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	67,811	0	67,811	0	0	0	67,811	0
Redemption of OP Units	(262)	0	(262)	0	0	0	(262)	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	10,716,397	93,256	14,135,657	(103,408)	(3,491,696)	(867)	10,632,942	83,455
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	10,278,191	93,635	14,171,262	(54,354)	(4,030,376)	0	10,180,167	98,024
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income attributable to common stockholders	(57,209)	0	0	0	(57,209)	0	(57,209)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,811							1,811
Net income	(55,398)
Other comprehensive income	4,773	0	0	1,857	0	0	1,857	2,916
Net change in noncontrolling interests	2,149	0	3,435	0	0	0	3,435	(1,286)
Dividends to common stockholders	(169,369)	0	47	0	(169,416)	0	(169,369)	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangements, Restricted Stock Awards and Other, after Forfeiture	24,208	115	24,882	0	0	(789)	24,208	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(12,918)	0	(12,918)	0	0	0	(12,918)	0
Redemption of OP Units	(16)	0	(16)	0	0	0	(16)	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 10,071,620	$ 93,750	$ 14,186,692	$ (52,497)	$ (4,257,001)	$ (789)	$ 9,970,155	$ 101,465