<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.2.0.7</Version>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>00 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R1.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0110 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/BalanceSheets</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R2.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0111 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/BalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R3.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0120 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/StatementsOfIncome</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R4.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0121 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/StatementsOfIncomeParenthetical</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R5.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0130 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Equity</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Equity</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/StatementsOfEquity</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R6.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0131 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Equity (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Equity (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/StatementOfEquityParenthetical</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R7.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0140 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/StatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R8.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0201 - Disclosure - Description of Business</LongName>
      <ShortName>Description of Business</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/DescriptionOfBusiness</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R9.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0202 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/AccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R10.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0203 - Disclosure - Concentration of Credit Risk</LongName>
      <ShortName>Concentration of Credit Risk</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/ConcentrationOfCreditRisk</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R11.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0204 - Disclosure - Dispositions</LongName>
      <ShortName>Dispositions</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/Dispositions</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R12.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0205 - Disclosure - Intangibles</LongName>
      <ShortName>Intangibles</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/Intangibles</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R13.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <LongName>0206 - Disclosure - Senior Notes Payable and Other Debt</LongName>
      <ShortName>Senior Notes Payable and Other Debt</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/SeniorNotesPayableAndOtherDebt</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R14.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0207 - Disclosure - Fair Values of Financial Instruments</LongName>
      <ShortName>Fair Values of Financial Instruments</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/FairValuesOfFinancialInstruments</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R15.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0208 - Disclosure - Litigation</LongName>
      <ShortName>Litigation</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/Litigation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R16.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0209 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R17.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0210 - Disclosure - Stockholders Equity</LongName>
      <ShortName>Stockholders Equity</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/StockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R18.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0211 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Common Share</LongName>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Common Share</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/EarningsPerCommonShare</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R19.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0212 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R20.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0213 - Disclosure - Subsequent Event</LongName>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Event</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/SubsequentEvent</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R21.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0214 - Disclosure - Condensed Consolidating Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidating Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://ventasreit.com/role/Information</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R22.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
      <Role />
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName />
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <ContextCount>44</ContextCount>
  <SegmentCount>7</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <ElementCount>140</ElementCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Noncontrolling_Interest_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>ThreeMonthsEnded_30Jun2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>31</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Treasury_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>35</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>35</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>January-01-2010_June-30-2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>98</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Noncontrolling_Interest_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>SixMonthsEnded_30Jun2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>66</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>SixMonthsEnded_30Jun2010_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>SixMonthsEnded_30Jun2010_Parent_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>10</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>SixMonthsEnded_30Jun2010_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Parent_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>4</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_26Jul2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Noncontrolling_Interest_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>SixMonthsEnded_30Jun2010_Treasury_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010_Noncontrolling_Interest_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>SixMonthsEnded_30Jun2010_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Treasury_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Parent_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>SixMonthsEnded_30Jun2010_Noncontrolling_Interest_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>SixMonthsEnded_30Jun2010_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010_Parent_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>ThreeMonthsEnded_30Jun2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>31</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>12</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Parent_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>11</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Treasury_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
  </ContextSummary>
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
