Schedule IV - Real Estate Mortgage Loans (Mortgage Loan Reconciliation) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Movement in Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 335,656us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate	$ 622,139us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate	$ 206,050us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate
New Loans	451,269	3,500	440,000
Construction Draws	0	694	12,119
Total additions	451,269vtr_MortgageLoansonRealEstateAdditions	4,194vtr_MortgageLoansonRealEstateAdditions	452,119vtr_MortgageLoansonRealEstateAdditions
Principal Repayments	(15,548)	(75,738)	(36,030)
Conversions to Real Property	(18,310)	0	0
Sales and Syndications	(5,611)	(214,939)	0
Total deductions	(39,469)vtr_MortgageLoansonRealEstateDeductions	(290,677)vtr_MortgageLoansonRealEstateDeductions	(36,030)vtr_MortgageLoansonRealEstateDeductions
Ending Balance	$ 747,456us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate	$ 335,656us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate	$ 622,139us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate

Total carrying amount of mortgage loans as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.6)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of principal collected on mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of mortgage loans on real estate that were sold during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount of new mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount of additions to mortgage loans other than new loans during the reporting period.

+ References

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Additions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_MortgageLoansonRealEstateAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Conversion To Real Property

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
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- Definition

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Deductions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration