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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OWGxqCed1DkaUHs7gpWyq3dbkecQx0TAQzWanBiN7qobEMhhF+6EYIv1RazhtYOe
 n99CAwZXOSWS4kXAaWwPZQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000740260-04-000014.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0000740260-04-000014.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107165413
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000740260-04-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VENTAS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000740260
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				611055020
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10350 ORMSBY PARK PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40223
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5023579000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10350 ORMSBY PARK PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GELLERT JAY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213928

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-107942
		FILM NUMBER:		04513615

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21650 OXNARD STREET, 22ND FLOOR
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8186766000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21650 OXNARD STREET, 22ND FLOOR
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000740260</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VENTAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213928</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GELLERT JAY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21650 OXNARD ST., 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91367</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.15</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>22.15</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-05</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-05</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><val
ue>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25000</value><footnoteId id="F3"/><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options granted pursuant to the Ventas, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan for Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The options are exercisable in cumulative 50% annual installments beginning on 1/5/04.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Represents the total number of unexercised stock options held by Mr. Gellert as of January 5, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F4">As of January 5, 2004, Reporting Person also owns 8,867.829 shares of Issuer's common stock.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Jay M. Gellert, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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