CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Par Value	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Total Ventas Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 9,625,427	$ 83,579	$ 11,602,838	$ (7,565)	$ (2,111,958)	$ (2,567)	$ 9,564,327	$ 61,100
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income	651,490				649,231	0	649,231	2,259
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	(49,969)			(49,969)			(49,969)
Impact of CCP Spin-Off	640	0	640	0	0	0	640	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	16,829	0	(2,179)	0	0	0	(2,179)	19,008
Dividends to common stockholders	(1,024,968)				(1,024,968)		(1,024,968)
Issuance of common stock	1,286,680	4,716	1,281,947			17	1,286,680
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	29,265	99	26,594			2,572	29,265
Change in redeemable noncontrolling interests	(15,568)		(1,714)				(1,714)	(13,854)
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(21,085)		(21,085)				(21,085)
Redemption of OP units	23,812	92	22,622			1,098	23,812
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	6,200	28	7,339	0	0	(1,167)	6,200	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	10,528,753	88,514	12,917,002	(57,534)	(2,487,695)	(47)	10,460,240	68,513
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income	352,116				349,958	0	349,958	2,158
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	12,499	0	0	12,499	0	0	12,499	0
Impact of CCP Spin-Off	74	0	74	0	0	0	74	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(9,699)		(1,427)				(1,427)	(8,272)
Dividends to common stockholders	(551,209)				(551,209)		(551,209)
Issuance of common stock	73,596	276	72,768			552	73,596
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	18,176	80	17,870			226	18,176
Change in redeemable noncontrolling interests	6,441		746				746	5,695
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(20,163)		(20,163)				(20,163)
Redemption of OP units	22,507	80	19,644			2,783	22,507
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	9,061	66	12,509			(3,514)	9,061
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 10,442,152	$ 89,016	$ 13,019,023	$ (45,035)	$ (2,688,946)	$ 0	$ 10,374,058	$ 68,094