CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Par Value	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Total Ventas Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Cumulative effect change in accounting principles	$ 30,643	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 30,643	$ 0	$ 30,643	$ 0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	10,932,185	89,029	13,053,057	(35,120)	(2,240,698)	(42)	10,866,226	65,959
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income	80,098	0	0	0	78,703	0	78,703	1,395
Other comprehensive income	20,646	0	0	20,646	0	0	20,646	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(3,355)	0	770	0	0	0	770	(4,125)
Dividends to common stockholders	(282,088)	0	0	0	(282,088)	0	(282,088)	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	1,161	1	1,160	0	0	0	1,161	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	23,537	0	23,537	0	0	0	23,537	0
Redemption of OP Units	(127)	0	(361)	0	0	234	(127)	0
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	1,344	32	2,057	0	0	(745)	1,344	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	10,804,044	89,062	13,080,220	(14,474)	(2,413,440)	(553)	10,740,815	63,229
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Cumulative effect change in accounting principles	637	0	0	(163)	800	0	637	0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	10,271,594	89,125	13,076,528	(19,582)	(2,930,214)	0	10,215,857	55,737
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income	127,588	0	0	0	125,785	0	125,785	1,803
Other comprehensive income	7,680	0	0	7,680	0	0	7,680	0
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(2,880)	0	(1,690)	0	0	0	(1,690)	(1,190)
Dividends to common stockholders	(284,772)	0	0	0	(284,772)	0	(284,772)	0
Issuance of common stock	98,438	390	98,048	0	0	0	98,438	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	13,918	9	9,819	0	0	4,090	13,918	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(19,068)	0	(19,068)	0	0	0	(19,068)	0
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	(7,122)	55	(3,087)	0	0	(4,090)	(7,122)	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 10,206,013	$ 89,579	$ 13,160,550	$ (12,065)	$ (3,088,401)	$ 0	$ 10,149,663	$ 56,350