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SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT - Summary of Senior Notes Payables and Other Debt (Details) $ in Thousands, $ in Billions	Mar. 31, 2020 CAD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt instruments
Commercial paper		$ 0	$ 567,450
Deferred financing costs, net		(76,967)	(79,939)
Unamortized fair value adjustment		17,975	20,056
Unamortized discounts		(25,498)	(27,146)
Long-term debt and short-term borrowings, gross		14,256,769	12,245,802
Senior notes payable and other debt		14,172,279	12,158,773
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt instruments
Fair value of amount outstanding		2,888,159	120,787
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Borrowings Originally Denominated in CAD
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other		12,400	26,200
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Borrowings Originally Denominated in GBP
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other		25,700	27,600
Secured revolving construction credit facility due 2022 \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt instruments
Fair value of amount outstanding		152,427	$ 160,492
3.00% Senior Notes, Series A due 2019
Debt instruments
Interest rate			3.00%
2.70% Senior Notes due 2020
Debt instruments
Interest rate			2.70%
4.25% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt instruments
Interest rate			4.25%
3.25% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt instruments
Senior notes			$ 500,000
Interest rate			3.25%
3.30% Senior Notes, Series C due 2022
Debt instruments
Senior notes		177,822	$ 192,515
Interest rate			3.30%
Unsecured Term Loan Due 2023
Debt instruments
Unsecured term loan		200,000	$ 200,000
3.125% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt instruments
Senior notes		400,000	$ 400,000
Interest rate			3.125%
3.10% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt instruments
Senior notes		400,000	$ 400,000
Interest rate			3.10%
2.55% Senior Notes, Series D due 2023
Debt instruments
Senior notes		195,604	$ 211,767
Interest rate			2.55%
3.50% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes		400,000	$ 400,000
Interest rate			3.50%
3.75% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes		400,000	$ 400,000
Interest rate			3.75%
4.125% Senior Notes, Series B due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes		177,822	$ 192,515
Interest rate			4.125%
2.80% Senior Notes, Series E due 2024 [Member]
Debt instruments
Senior notes		426,773	$ 462,036
Unsecured Term Loan due 2025
Debt instruments
Unsecured term loan	$ 0.5	355,644	385,030
3.50% Senior Notes due 2025
Debt instruments
Senior notes		600,000	$ 600,000
Interest rate			3.50%
2.65% Senior Notes due 2025
Debt instruments
Senior notes		450,000	$ 450,000
Interest rate			2.65%
4.125% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt instruments
Senior notes		500,000	$ 500,000
Interest rate			4.125%
3.25% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt instruments
Senior notes		450,000	$ 450,000
Interest rate			3.25%
3.85% Senior Notes Due 2027
Debt instruments
Senior notes		400,000	$ 400,000
Interest rate			3.85%
4.00% Senior Notes due 2028
Debt instruments
Senior notes		650,000	$ 650,000
Interest rate			4.00%
4.40% Senior Notes due 2029
Debt instruments
Senior notes		750,000	$ 750,000
Interest rate			4.40%
3.00% Senior Notes due 2030
Debt instruments
Senior notes		650,000	$ 650,000
Interest rate			3.00%
6.90% Senior Notes due 2037
Debt instruments
Senior notes		$ 52,400	$ 52,400
Interest rate	6.90%	6.90%	6.90%
6.59% Senior Notes due 2038
Debt instruments
Senior notes		$ 22,823	$ 22,823
Interest rate	6.59%	6.59%	6.59%
5.45% Senior Notes due 2043
Debt instruments
Interest rate			5.45%
5.70% Senior Notes due 2043
Debt instruments
Senior notes		$ 300,000	$ 300,000
Interest rate			5.70%
4.375% Senior Notes due 2045
Debt instruments
Senior notes		300,000	$ 300,000
Interest rate			4.375%
4.875% Senior Notes due 2049
Debt instruments
Senior notes		300,000	$ 300,000
Interest rate			4.875%
Mortgages Loans and Other
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other		1,943,909	$ 1,996,969
Floating Rate, Series F due 2021 [Member]
Debt instruments
Senior notes		213,386	$ 231,018
Ventas Realty and Ventas Capital Corp [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Debt instruments
Senior notes		$ 500,000