The number of new shares issued in the conversion of stock in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesIssued1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of general partner units outstanding.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GeneralPartnersCapitalAccountUnitsOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 272
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total change in each class of partners' capital accounts during the year due to redemptions and adjustments to redemption value. All partners include general, limited and preferred partners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of units redeemed during the year of each class of partners' capital account. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountUnitsRedeemed
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

As of the reporting date, the aggregate carrying amount of all noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. This item includes noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) regardless of the type of equity interest (common, preferred, other) including all potential organizational (legal) forms of the investee entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (12)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph (16)(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3A
-Subparagraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=SL6540498-122764

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock bought back by the entity at the exercise price or redemption price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84159872&loc=d3e21463-112644

+ Details

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

- Definition

Unit conversion factor for common stock assigned at the time of the merger.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_UnitConversionFactorForCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalUnitsByClassAxis=us-gaap_CapitalUnitClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalUnitsByClassAxis=us-gaap_CapitalUnitClassBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalUnitsByClassAxis=vtr_CapitalUnitClassCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=vtr_NhppmblpMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=us-gaap_LimitedPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis=us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Redeemable OP Unitholder and Noncontrolling Interest (Details) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) shares	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Conversion of stock, value redeemed \| $			$ 20.9
Fair value of operating partnership units exceeding cost \| $	$ 171.1			$ 177.2
Partner redemptions \| $		$ 15.8
Common Stock
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Conversion of stock, shares Issued (in shares)			341,776
Class A
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Limited partnership units outstanding (in shares)	2,721,522
Class B
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Limited partnership units outstanding (in shares)	7,181,361
Class C
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Partners' capital account, units, redeemed (in shares)			341,776
NHP/PMB L.P.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Unit conversion factor for common stock	0.9051
NHP/PMB L.P. \| Limited Partner \| Class A
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest on total units outstanding	27.50%
NHP/PMB L.P. \| General Partner
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest on total units outstanding	72.50%