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, 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 (loss) attributable to common stockholders	89,862	0	0	0	89,862	0	89,862
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,802							5,802
Net (loss) income	95,664
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,324)	0	0	(13,247)	0	0	(13,247)	1,923
Acquisition-related activity	751,248	3,332	747,916	0	0	0	751,248	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(50,329)	0	(35,009)	0	0	0	(35,009)	(15,320)
Dividends to common stockholders	(519,116)	0	0	0	(519,116)	0	(519,116)	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans, restricted stock grants and other	644,748	2,810	642,054	0	0	(116)	644,748	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(21,953)	0	(21,953)	0	0	0	(21,953)	0
Redemption of OP Units	16	0	(60)	0	0	76	16	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	11,167,145	99,777	15,504,210	(67,601)	(4,459,630)	(40)	11,076,716	90,429
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	9,983,904	93,784	14,187,577	(58,290)	(4,340,052)	(320)	9,882,699	101,205
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	60,680	0	0	0	60,680	0	60,680
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,094							2,094
Net (loss) income	62,774
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,823)	0	0	(9,311)	0	0	(9,311)	(2,512)
Acquisition-related activity	751,248	3,332	747,916	0	0	0	751,248	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(51,606)	0	(41,248)	0	0	0	(41,248)	(10,358)
Dividends to common stockholders	(180,258)	0	0	0	(180,258)	0	(180,258)	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans, restricted stock grants and other	609,485	2,661	606,620	0	0	204	609,485	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	3,386	0	3,386	0	0	0	3,386	0
Redemption of OP Units	35	0	(41)	0	0	76	35	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	11,167,145	99,777	15,504,210	(67,601)	(4,459,630)	(40)	11,076,716	90,429
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	10,945,760	99,838	15,498,956	(64,520)	(4,679,889)	0	10,854,385	91,375
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	(2,428)	0	0	0	(2,428)	0	(2,428)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,881
Net (loss) income	2,453
Other comprehensive income (loss)	13,215	0	0	17,211	0	0	17,211	(3,996)
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(42,873)	0	(21,166)	0	0	0	(21,166)	(21,707)
Dividends to common stockholders	(541,585)	0	0	0	(541,585)	0	(541,585)	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans, restricted stock grants and other	30,802	76	31,273	0	0	(547)	30,802	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	24,154	0	24,154	0	0	0	24,154	0
Redemption of OP Units	(14)	0	(14)	0	0	0	(14)	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	10,431,912	99,914	15,533,203	(47,309)	(5,223,902)	(547)	10,361,359	70,553
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	10,603,394	99,913	15,514,015	(56,355)	(5,044,569)	(408)	10,512,596	90,798
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	1,256	0	0	0	1,256	0	1,256
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,807							1,807
Net (loss) income	3,063
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,933	0	0	9,046	0	0	9,046	(6,113)
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(30,584)	0	(14,645)	0	0	0	(14,645)	(15,939)
Dividends to common stockholders	(180,589)	0	0	0	(180,589)	0	(180,589)	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans, restricted stock grants and other	5,963	1	6,101	0	0	(139)	5,963	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	27,746	0	27,746	0	0	0	27,746	0
Redemption of OP Units	(14)	0	(14)	0	0	0	(14)	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 10,431,912	$ 99,914	$ 15,533,203	$ (47,309)	$ (5,223,902)	$ (547)	$ 10,361,359	$ 70,553