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	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle Common Stock Par Value	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle Capital in Excess of Par Value	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle Treasury Stock	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle Total Ventas Stockholders’ Equity	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle Noncontrolling Interests
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	$ 637	$ 0	$ 0	$ (163)	$ 800	$ 0	$ 637	$ 0
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income attributable to common stockholders	125,785	0	0	0	125,785	0	125,785
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,803							1,803
Net income	127,588
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
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangements, Restricted Stock Awards and Other, after Forfeiture	6,796	64	6,732	0	0	0	6,796	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(19,068)	0	(19,068)	0	0	0	(19,068)	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
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	10,545,452	93,185	14,056,453	(34,564)	(3,669,050)	(132)	10,445,892	99,560
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income attributable to common stockholders	473,117	0	0	0	473,117	0	473,117
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,613							1,613
Net income	474,730
Other comprehensive income	(78,826)	0	0	(68,844)	0	0	(68,844)	(9,982)
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(6,975)	0	761	0	0	0	761	(7,736)
Dividends to common stockholders	(296,482)	0	0	0	(296,482)	0	(296,482)	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangements, Restricted Stock Awards and Other, after Forfeiture	10,949	71	10,894	0	719	(735)	10,949	0
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	67,811	0	67,811	0	0	0	67,811	0
Redemption of OP Units	(262)	0	(262)	0	0	0	(262)	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 10,716,397	$ 93,256	$ 14,135,657	$ (103,408)	$ (3,491,696)	$ (867)	$ 10,632,942	$ 83,455