CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	$ 118,599	$ 111,821	$ 346,230	$ 275,649	$ 361,775
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	1,665	2,838	(3,148)	3,180
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(208)	(509)	(1,015)	(1,220)
Other	84	(107)	2,102	(396)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,541	2,222	(2,061)	1,564	1,292
Comprehensive income	120,140	114,043	344,169	277,213
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	303	(61)	1,161	(884)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	119,837	114,104	343,008	278,097
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	118,296	111,882	345,069	276,533
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(208)	(509)
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(208)	(509)	(1,015)	(1,220)
Comprehensive income	118,088	111,373	344,054	275,313
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	118,088	111,373	344,054	275,313
Ventas Realty [Member] [Member]
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	20,186	31,843	67,466	53,732
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Comprehensive income	20,186	31,843	67,466	53,732
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	20,186	31,843	67,466	53,732
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	98,455	83,733	273,709	174,020
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	1,665	2,838
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other	84	(107)	2,102	(396)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,749	2,731	(1,046)	2,784
Comprehensive income	100,204	86,464	272,663	176,804
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(303)	61	1,161	(884)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	99,901	86,525	271,502	177,688
Consolidated Eliminations
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	(118,338)	(115,637)	(340,014)	(228,636)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Comprehensive income	(118,338)	(115,637)	(340,014)	(228,636)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ (118,338)	$ (115,637)	$ (340,014)	$ (228,636)