Assets Total assets Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets [Abstract] Assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and equity Liabilities [Abstract] Liabilities: Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Equity: Investment Building and Building Improvements Investment Building and Building Improvements, Total Buildings and improvements Construction in Progress, Gross Construction in progress Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost, Total Total real estate investments Real Estate Investment Property, Accumulated Depreciation Accumulated depreciation Accumulated depreciation Real Estate Investment Property, Net Real Estate Investment Property, Net, Total Net real estate property Loans Receivable, Net Loans receivable, net Real Estate Investments Real Estate Investments, Total Net real estate investments Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents Deferred Finance Costs, Net Deferred Finance Costs, Net, Total Deferred financing costs, net Other Assets Other Long-term Debt Long-term Debt, Total Senior notes payable and other debt Interest Payable Accrued interest Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Total Accounts payable and other liabilities Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Deferred income taxes Liabilities Liabilities, Total Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 10,000 shares authorized, unissued Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock, $0.25 par value; 300,000 shares authorized; 156,872 and 156,627 shares issued at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Capital in excess of par value Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Accumulated other comprehensive income Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained earnings (deficit) Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock, 0 and 15 shares at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, 0 and 15 shares at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total equity Beginning Balance Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and equity Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares issued Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, shares Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract] Revenues [Abstract] Revenues: Earnings Per Common Share [Abstract] Earnings per common share: Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Basic: Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Diluted: Other Real Estate Revenue Resident fees and services Investment Income, Net Investment Income, Net, Total Income from loans and investments Revenues Revenues, Total Total revenues Interest Expense Interest Expense, Total Interest Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Depreciation and amortization Direct Costs of Leased and Rented Property or Equipment Property-level operating expenses Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax Foreign currency loss (gain) Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax, Total Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt Loss on extinguishment of debt Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt, Total Loss on extinguishment of debt Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs Merger-related expenses and deal costs Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income before income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Discontinued operations Discontinued operations Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income attributable to common stockholders Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Outstanding Share, Total Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share Discontinued operations Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income attributable to common stockholders Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income attributable to common stockholders Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total Diluted Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared Dividends declared per common share Consolidated Statements of Equity [Abstract] Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Issuance of common stock Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Comprehensive Income: Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable debt securities Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease) Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Net change in noncontrolling interest Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid Dividends to common stockholders, per share Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent, Total Comprehensive income Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Net Nonmonetary Assets Acquired (Liabilities Assumed) [Abstract] Assets and liabilities assumed from acquisitions: Debt transferred on the sale of assets Debt transferred on the sale of assets. Debt transferred on the sale of assets Common Stock Par Value Common Stock Par Value Capital in Excess of Par Value Capital in Excess of Par Value Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Treasury Stock Retained Earnings (Deficit) Noncontrolling Interest Total Ventas Stockholders' Equity Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information. Senior Notes Payable and Other Debt [Abstract] Senior Notes Payable And Other Debt. Fair Values of Financial Instruments [Abstract] Fair Values Of Financial Instruments Fair Values Of Financial Instruments. Segment Information. Segment Information [Abstract] Nature of Operations [Text Block] DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] ACCOUNTING POLICIES Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block] DISPOSITIONS Debt Disclosure [Text Block] SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] INCOME TAXES Earnings Per Share [Text Block] EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] SEGMENT INFORMATION Schedule of Condensed Financial Statements [Text Block] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION Income Taxes [Abstract] Concentration of Credit Risk [Abstract] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Land Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share Discontinued operations Discontinued operations Statement [Table] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Amortization Amortization of deferred revenue and lease intangibles, net Other Amortization of Deferred Charges Other amortization expenses Share-based Compensation General, administrative and professional fees, non-cash stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Stock-based compensation Gain (Loss) on Sale of Other Assets Net gain on sale of real estate assets Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Other Other Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Payments to Acquire Real Estate Net investment in real estate property Payments to Acquire Real Estate, Total Net investment in real estate property Payments to Acquire Loans Receivable Investment in loans receivable Investment in loans receivable Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate Held-for-investment Proceeds from real estate disposals Proceeds from Sale and Collection of Loans Receivable Proceeds from loans receivable Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Capital expenditures Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Proceeds from Other Debt Proceeds from debt Repayments of Other Debt Repayment of debt Repayment of debt Payments of Financing Costs Payment of deferred financing costs Payments of Financing Costs, Total Payment of deferred financing costs Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Cash distribution to common stockholders Cash distribution to common stockholders Cash distribution to common stockholders Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests Contributions from noncontrolling interest Payments to Noncontrolling Interests Distributions to noncontrolling interest Distributions to noncontrolling interest Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities Other Other Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities Net cash used in financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents Transfer Investments Real estate investments Escrow Deposits Related to Property Sales Utilization of escrow funds held for an Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 exchange Fair Value of Assets Acquired Other assets acquired Liabilities Assumed Other liabilities Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Preferred stock, shares issued Interest Income And Other Interest and other income These amounts consist of interest earned on invested cash and various other miscellaneous revenue items not related to operating revenue. Tax On Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, tax Tax On Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest. Adjustment Depreciation And Amortization Depreciation and amortization (including amounts in discontinued operations) The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale to allocate or recognize the cost of assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset. Examples include buildings, production equipment and customer lists. Noncontrolling Interest Assets And Liabilities Assumed From Acquisitions Noncontrolling interest Noncontrolling interest assets and liabilities assumed from acquisitions. Other Comprehensive Income Other Net Of Tax Other Other The adjustment out of other comprehensive income, after tax. Stock Issued During Period Value Long Term Incentive Plan Activity Issuance of common stock for stock plans Aggregate change in value for stock issued during the period related to long-term incentive plan activity. Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Expenses: Intangibles [Abstract] Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] INTANGIBLES Real Estate Investment Property, Net [Abstract] Real estate investments: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted average shares used in computing earnings per common share: Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Supplemental schedule of non-cash activities: Proceeds From Repayments Of Credit Facility Repayments And Draws Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facilities The cash outflow to pay off (or the cash inflow from additional borrowings of) an obligation from a revolving credit arrangement, under which borrowings can be made up to a specific amount at any point in time with either short term or long term maturity. Description of Business. Description of Business [Abstract] Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Dividends to common stockholders - $2.05 per share and $ 1.07 per share, for 2009 and 2010 respectively Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax (expense) benefit Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Income tax expense (benefit) Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities Operating Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue Operating Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue, Total Rental income Restricted Cash and Investments Restricted Cash and Investments, Total Escrow deposits and restricted cash Costs and Expenses Total expenses Dispositions [Abstract] Entity Voluntary Filers Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Ventas stockholders' equity: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Total Ventas stockholders' equity General and Administrative Expense General and Administrative Expense, Total General, administrative and professional fees (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $3,057 and $3,078 for the three months ended 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $6,089 and $6,137 for the six months ended 2010 and 2009, respectively) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (net of tax of $559 and $541 for the three months ended 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $978 and $931 for the six months ended 2010 and 2009, respectively) Increase (Decrease) in Interest Payable, Net Decrease in accrued interest Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Issuance of common stock, net Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] STOCKHOLDERS? EQUITY Subsequent Event. Subsequent Event [Abstract] Litigation Litigation [Abstract] Litigation Text Block LITIGATION Litigation. Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Rent Receivables Straight-lining of rental income Extinguishment of Debt, Gain (Loss), Net of Tax Loss on extinguishment of debt Extinguishment of Debt, Gain (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets (Increase) decrease in other assets Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets, Total Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block] SUBSEQUENT EVENT Condensed Consolidating Information [Information Abstract] Condensed Consolidating Information Information Abstract.