CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Rental income	$ 403,196		$ 353,069
Resident fees and services	446,914		371,061
Medical office building and other services revenue	10,543		6,300
Income from loans and investments	22,899		10,767
Equity earnings in affiliates	0		0
Interest and other income	472		273
Total revenues	884,024		741,470
Expenses:
Interest	106,590		87,841
Depreciation and amortization	247,441		193,594
Property-level operating expenses	340,711		287,640
Medical office building services costs	6,918		3,371
General, administrative and professional fees	34,330		32,866
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net	21		(259)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	35,172		10,760
Other	5,296		5,229
Total expenses	776,479		621,042
Income before (loss) income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	107,545		120,428
(Loss) income from unconsolidated entities	(251)		248
Income tax benefit (expense)	7,250		(3,433)
Income from continuing operations	114,544		117,243
Discontinued operations	(423)		3,031
Gain on real estate dispositions	6,686		1,000
Net income	120,807		121,274		477,186
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	365		227
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	120,442		121,047
Ventas, Inc.
Revenues:
Rental income	916		618
Income from loans and investments	1,436		306
Equity earnings in affiliates	129,996		126,085
Interest and other income	356		152
Total revenues	132,704		127,161
Expenses:
Interest	(7,828)		(647)
Depreciation and amortization	1,343		1,422
General, administrative and professional fees	(2,741)		1,887
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net			(3)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	34,353		1,753
Other	1,071		707
Total expenses	26,198		5,119
Income before (loss) income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	106,506		122,042
Income tax benefit (expense)	7,250		(3,433)
Income from continuing operations	113,756		118,609
Discontinued operations			1,438
Gain on real estate dispositions	6,686		1,000
Net income	120,442		121,047
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	120,442		121,047
Ventas Realty
Revenues:
Rental income	71,168	[1]	66,941	[1]
Income from loans and investments	51	[1]
Interest and other income	5	[1]	5	[1]
Total revenues	71,224	[1]	66,946	[1]
Expenses:
Interest	63,594	[1]	43,094	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	9,050	[1]	7,431	[1]
Property-level operating expenses	131	[1]	150	[1]
General, administrative and professional fees	6,361	[1]	5,388	[1]
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net			3
Other	2	[1]	319	[1]
Total expenses	79,138	[1]	56,385	[1]
Income before (loss) income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	(7,914)	[1]	10,561	[1]
(Loss) income from unconsolidated entities	401	[1]	522	[1]
Income from continuing operations	(7,513)	[1]	11,083	[1]
Discontinued operations	(277)	[1]	556	[1]
Net income	(7,790)	[1]	11,639	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	(7,790)	[1]	11,639	[1]
Ventas Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Rental income	331,112		285,510
Resident fees and services	446,914		371,061
Medical office building and other services revenue	10,543		6,300
Income from loans and investments	21,412		10,461
Equity earnings in affiliates	(79)		116
Interest and other income	111		116
Total revenues	810,013		673,564
Expenses:
Interest	50,824		45,394
Depreciation and amortization	237,048		184,741
Property-level operating expenses	340,580		287,490
Medical office building services costs	6,918		3,371
General, administrative and professional fees	30,710		25,591
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net	21		(259)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	819		9,007
Other	4,223		4,203
Total expenses	671,143		559,538
Income before (loss) income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	138,870		114,026
(Loss) income from unconsolidated entities	(652)		(274)
Income from continuing operations	138,218		113,752
Discontinued operations	(149)		1,037
Net income	138,069		114,789
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	365		227
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	137,704		114,562
Consolidated Eliminations
Revenues:
Equity earnings in affiliates	(129,917)		(126,201)
Total revenues	(129,917)		(126,201)
Expenses:
Income before (loss) income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations, real estate dispositions and noncontrolling interest	(129,917)		(126,201)
Income from continuing operations	(129,917)		(126,201)
Discontinued operations	3
Net income	(129,914)		(126,201)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ (129,914)		$ (126,201)

[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.