Condensed Consolidating Information (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Net real estate investments	$ 18,543,471		$ 17,841,943
Cash and cash equivalents	94,816		67,908		45,807		21,812
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	84,657		105,913
Deferred financing costs, net	62,215		42,551
Investment in and advances to affiliates	0		0
Other assets	946,335		921,685
Total assets	19,731,494		18,980,000
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	9,364,992		8,413,646
Intercompany loans	0		0
Accrued interest	54,349		47,565
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,001,515		995,156
Deferred income taxes	250,167		259,715
Total liabilities	10,671,023		9,716,082
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	156,660		174,555
Total equity	8,903,811		9,089,363		9,355,944		2,390,205
Total liabilities and equity	19,731,494		18,980,000
Ventas, Inc.
Assets
Net real estate investments	7,009		7,615
Cash and cash equivalents	28,169		16,734		2,335		1,083
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	2,104		7,565
Deferred financing costs, net	758		757
Investment in and advances to affiliates	10,481,466		8,979,830
Other assets	29,450		26,282
Total assets	10,548,956		9,038,783
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	0		0
Intercompany loans	4,247,853		2,061,334
Accrued interest	0		0
Accounts payable and other liabilities	94,495		99,631
Deferred income taxes	250,167		259,715
Total liabilities	4,592,515		2,420,680
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	0		119,244
Total equity	5,956,441		6,498,859
Total liabilities and equity	10,548,956		9,038,783
Ventas Realty (1)
Assets
Net real estate investments	374,590	[1]	412,362	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	1,211	[1]	1,952	[1]
Deferred financing costs, net	54,022	[1]	34,044	[1]
Investment in and advances to affiliates	3,201,998	[1]	3,201,998	[1]
Other assets	14,102	[1]	4,043	[1]
Total assets	3,645,923	[1]	3,654,399	[1]
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	6,336,240	[1]	4,570,296	[1]
Intercompany loans	(4,682,119)	[1]	(2,791,885)	[1]
Accrued interest	39,561	[1]	24,045	[1]
Accounts payable and other liabilities	28,152	[1]	7,776	[1]
Deferred income taxes	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total liabilities	1,721,834	[1]	1,810,232	[1]
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total equity	1,924,089	[1]	1,844,167	[1]
Total liabilities and equity	3,645,923	[1]	3,654,399	[1]
Ventas Subsidiaries
Assets
Net real estate investments	18,161,872		17,421,966
Cash and cash equivalents	66,647		51,174		43,472		20,729
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	81,342		96,396
Deferred financing costs, net	7,435		7,750
Investment in and advances to affiliates	0		0
Other assets	902,783		891,360
Total assets	19,220,079		18,468,646
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	3,028,752		3,843,350
Intercompany loans	434,266		730,551
Accrued interest	14,788		23,520
Accounts payable and other liabilities	878,868		887,749
Deferred income taxes	0		0
Total liabilities	4,356,674		5,485,170
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	156,660		55,311
Total equity	14,706,745		12,928,165
Total liabilities and equity	19,220,079		18,468,646
Consolidated Elimination
Assets
Net real estate investments	0		0
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0		0
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	0		0
Deferred financing costs, net	0		0
Investment in and advances to affiliates	(13,683,464)		(12,181,828)
Other assets	0		0
Total assets	(13,683,464)		(12,181,828)
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	0		0
Intercompany loans	0		0
Accrued interest	0		0
Accounts payable and other liabilities	0		0
Deferred income taxes	0		0
Total liabilities	0		0
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total equity	(13,683,464)		(12,181,828)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (13,683,464)		$ (12,181,828)

[1] Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.