CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION - Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	$ 149,034	$ 120,759	$ 419,222
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(10,668)	(10,872)
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	181	1,349
Other	(1,880)	759
Total other comprehensive loss	(12,367)	(8,764)	$ (20,686)
Comprehensive income	136,667	111,995
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	54	317
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	136,613	111,678
Consolidated Elimination
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	(108,420)	(129,917)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	0
Other	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	0	0
Comprehensive income	(108,420)	(129,917)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	(108,420)	(129,917)
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	148,980	120,442
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	181	1,349
Other	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	181	1,349
Comprehensive income	149,161	121,791
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	149,161	121,791
Ventas Realty
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	(34,248)	(7,788)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	0
Other	0	0
Total other comprehensive loss	0	0
Comprehensive income	(34,248)	(7,788)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ (34,248)	(7,788)
Ownership percentage	100.00%
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income (loss)	$ 142,722	138,022
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(10,668)	(10,872)
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	0
Other	(1,880)	759
Total other comprehensive loss	(12,548)	(10,113)
Comprehensive income	130,174	127,909
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	54	317
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ 130,120	$ 127,592
Ventas Capital Corporation
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Ownership percentage	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%