ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Schedule of VIEs (Details) - Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary, Aggregated Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	$ 949,241	$ 981,752
Total Liabilities	222,644	234,109
NHP/PMB L.P.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	626,227	639,763
Total Liabilities	194,369	199,674
Ventas Realty Capital Healthcare Trust Operating Partnership, L.P.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	0	2,143,139
Total Liabilities	0	162,426
Other identified VIEs
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	1,945,402	1,882,336
Total Liabilities	$ 332,971	$ 354,034