Condensed Consolidating Information (Comprehensive Income Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 12,893	$ 86,918	$ 211,898	$ 127,588	$ 63,302	$ 103,281	$ 169,300	$ 80,098	$ 439,297	$ 415,981	$ 1,361,112
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation									5,729	(9,436)	20,612
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities									11,634	14,944	(437)
Derivative instruments									(30,814)	10,030	2,239
Total other comprehensive (loss) income									(13,451)	15,538	22,414
Comprehensive income									425,846	431,519	1,383,526
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									7,649	6,514	4,642
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders									418,197	425,005	1,378,884
Consolidated Elimination
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income									(359,674)	(306,068)	(1,265,751)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation									0	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities									0	0	0
Derivative instruments									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income									0	0	0
Comprehensive income									(359,674)	(306,068)	(1,265,751)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders									(359,674)	(306,068)	(1,265,751)
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income									433,016	409,467	1,356,470
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation									0	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities									0	0	0
Derivative instruments									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income									0	0	0
Comprehensive income									433,016	409,467	1,356,470
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders									433,016	409,467	1,356,470
Ventas Realty
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income									(246,841)	(269,557)	508,582
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation									0	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities									0	0	0
Derivative instruments									0	0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income									0	0	0
Comprehensive income									(246,841)	(269,557)	508,582
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders									(246,841)	(269,557)	508,582
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income									612,796	582,139	761,811
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation									5,729	(9,436)	20,612
Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities									11,634	14,944	(437)
Derivative instruments									(30,814)	10,030	2,239
Total other comprehensive (loss) income									(13,451)	15,538	22,414
Comprehensive income									599,345	597,677	784,225
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests										6,514	4,642
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders									$ 591,696	$ 591,163	$ 779,583