Condensed Consolidating Information (Cash Flow Statement) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 1,194,755		$ 992,816		$ 773,197
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,282,760)		(2,169,689)		(997,439)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under credit facilities	(164,029)		84,938		537,452
Proceeds from debt	2,767,546		2,710,405		1,343,640
Repayment of debt	(1,792,492)		(1,193,023)		(1,388,962)
Net change in intercompany debt	0		0		0
Payment of deferred financing costs	(31,277)		(23,770)		(20,040)
Issuance of common stock, net	141,343		342,469		299,847
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	0		0		0
Cash distribution to common stockholders	(802,123)		(728,546)		(521,046)
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(5,040)		(4,446)		(2,359)
Purchases of redeemable OP units	(659)		(4,601)		(185)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	2,395		38		2
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(9,286)		(5,215)		(2,556)
Other	8,618		20,665		2,489
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	114,996		1,198,914		248,282
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	26,991		22,041		24,040
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	(83)		60		(45)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	67,908		45,807		21,812
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	94,816		67,908		45,807
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(1,362)		(761)		124,784
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,416,336)		(1,364,125)		(618,663)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under credit facilities	0		0		0
Proceeds from debt	0		0		(230,000)
Repayment of debt	0		0		0
Net change in intercompany debt	2,156,519		2,151,815		1,363,963
Payment of deferred financing costs	0		0		0
Issuance of common stock, net	141,343		342,469		299,847
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	(69,525)		(398,071)		(417,763)
Cash distribution to common stockholders	(802,123)		(728,546)		(521,046)
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(5,040)		(4,446)		(2,359)
Purchases of redeemable OP units	(659)		(4,601)		0
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0		0		0
Other	8,618		20,665		2,489
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	1,429,133		1,379,285		495,131
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	11,435		14,399		1,252
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16,734		2,335		1,083
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	28,169		16,734		2,335
Ventas Realty (1)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	129,023	[1]	193,544	[1]	199,431	[1]
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	22,835	[1]	(100)	[1]	(500,879)	[1]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under credit facilities	(168,000)	[1]	92,000	[1]	405,000	[1]
Proceeds from debt	2,330,435	[1]	2,364,360	[1]	1,069,374	[1]
Repayment of debt	(400,000)	[1]	(521,527)	[1]	(206,500)	[1]
Net change in intercompany debt	(1,890,234)	[1]	(2,085,801)	[1]	(1,559,518)	[1]
Payment of deferred financing costs	(29,586)	[1]	(21,404)	[1]	(19,661)	[1]
Issuance of common stock, net	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	5,610	[1]	(21,132)	[1]	612,798	[1]
Cash distribution to common stockholders	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Purchases of redeemable OP units	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Other	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(151,775)	[1]	(193,504)	[1]	301,493	[1]
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	83	[1]	(60)	[1]	45	[1]
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	(83)	[1]	60	[1]	(45)	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	1,067,094		800,033		448,982
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	110,741		(805,464)		122,103
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under credit facilities	3,971		(7,062)		132,452
Proceeds from debt	437,111		346,045		504,266
Repayment of debt	(1,392,492)		(671,496)		(1,182,462)
Net change in intercompany debt	(266,285)		(66,014)		195,555
Payment of deferred financing costs	(1,691)		(2,366)		(379)
Issuance of common stock, net	0		0		0
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	63,915		419,203		(195,035)
Cash distribution to common stockholders	0		0		0
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	0		0		0
Purchases of redeemable OP units	0		0		(185)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	2,395		38		2
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(9,286)		(5,215)		(2,556)
Other	0		0		0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(1,162,362)		13,133		(548,342)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	15,473		7,702		22,743
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	51,174		43,472		20,729
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	66,647		51,174		43,472
Consolidated Elimination
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	0		0		0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	0		0		0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under credit facilities	0		0		0
Proceeds from debt	0		0		0
Repayment of debt	0		0		0
Net change in intercompany debt	0		0		0
Payment of deferred financing costs	0		0		0
Issuance of common stock, net	0		0		0
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	0		0		0
Cash distribution to common stockholders	0		0		0
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	0		0		0
Purchases of redeemable OP units	0		0		0
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	0		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0		0		0
Other	0		0		0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	0		0		0
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	0		0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0		0		0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

[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.