Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Rental income		$ 1,648,815	$ 1,598,948	$ 1,405,767
Resident fees and services		2,504,731	2,158,031	1,892,237
Interest income		97,963	84,141	37,667
Other income		29,651	18,706	7,875
Total revenues		4,281,160	3,859,826	3,343,546
Expenses:
Interest expense		521,345	492,169	481,039
Property operating expenses		1,876,983	1,622,257	1,403,358
Depreciation and amortization		901,242	826,240	844,130
General and administrative		155,241	147,416	142,943
Transaction costs		42,910	110,926	69,538
Loss (gain) on derivatives, net		(2,448)	(58,427)	(1,495)
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net		17,214	34,677	9,558
Provision for loan losses		10,215	0	0
Impairment of Asset		37,207	2,220	0
Other expenses		11,998	46,231	10,262
Total expenses		3,571,907	3,223,709	2,959,333
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from unconsolidated entities		709,253	636,117	384,213
Income tax (expense) benefit		19,128	(6,451)	1,267
(Loss) income from unconsolidated entities		(10,357)	(21,504)	(27,426)
Income from continuing operations		718,024	608,162	358,054
Discontinued operations:
Gain (loss) on sales of properties, net		0	0	6,411
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		0	0	724
Discontinued operations, net		0	0	7,135
Gain (loss) on real estate dispositions, net		364,046	280,387	147,111
Net income		1,082,070	888,549	512,300
Less: Preferred stock dividends		65,406	65,406	65,408
Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest	[1]	4,267	4,799	147
Net income attributable to common stockholders		$ 1,012,397	$ 818,344	$ 446,745
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		358,275	348,240	306,272
Diluted		360,227	349,424	307,747
Basic:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders including real estate dispositions		$ 2.83	$ 2.35	$ 1.44
Discontinued operations, net		0	0	0.02
Basic earnings per share		2.83	2.35	1.46
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders including real estate dispositions		2.81	2.34	1.43
Discontinued operations, net		0	0	0.02
Diluted earnings per share		$ 2.81	$ 2.34	$ 1.45

[1] Includes amounts attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests