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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AWYCjiqxMPkbmIcUuPDpmHQqrapxbrBTpsVNikEouiWD37gYv3qbGH1kdK+Tr+/e
 4YGzoGa46rTuQpiCY2xMzA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000740260-08-000088.txt : 20080305
<SEC-HEADER>0000740260-08-000088.hdr.sgml : 20080305
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080305173818
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000740260-08-000088
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080303
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080305
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080305

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:			THEOBALD THOMAS C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001042563

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10989
		FILM NUMBER:		08668873

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JONES LANG LASALLE INCORPORTED
		STREET 2:		200 E RANDOLPH DR
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		312 758 5800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		J0NES LANG LASALLE INCORPORTED
		STREET 2:		200 E RANDOLPH DR
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000740260</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VENTAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001042563</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THEOBALD THOMAS C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8 SOUND SHORE DRIVE, SUITE 285</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23.546</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.47</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19556.753</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Child</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Common Stock in the form of Units granted under the Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Compensation Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;), in lieu of Director fees pursuant to the Director's deferral election.  Such Units are payable solely in Common Stock and subject to the terms and conditions of the Director's deferral election and the Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these 3,000 shares except to the extent of the Reporting Person's pecuniary interest in the shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these 1,000 shares except to the extent of the Reporting Person's pecuniary interest in the shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">As of March 3, 2008, Reporting Person also owns options to purchase 35,000 shares of Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas C. Theobald, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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