CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Total Ventas Stockholders’ Equity	Total Ventas Stockholders’ Equity Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Common Stock Par Value	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Treasury Stock	Non- controlling Interests
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 10,932,185	$ 30,643	$ 10,866,226	$ 30,643	$ 89,029	$ 13,053,057	$ (35,120)		$ (2,240,698)	$ 30,643	$ (42)	$ 65,959
Increase (decrease) in shareholders' equity
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	409,467		409,467						409,467
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	6,514											6,514
Net income	415,981
Other comprehensive (loss) income	15,538		15,538				15,538
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(24,206)		(7,470)			(7,470)						(16,736)
Dividends to common stockholders—$2.1425 per share	(1,129,626)		(1,129,626)						(1,129,626)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans, restricted stock grants and other	34,530		34,530		93	34,647					(210)
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(3,323)		(3,323)			(3,323)
Redemption of OP Units	(128)		(128)		3	(383)					252
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2018	10,271,594	$ 638	10,215,857	$ 638	89,125	13,076,528	(19,582)	$ (163)	(2,930,214)	$ 801		55,737
Increase (decrease) in shareholders' equity
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	433,016		433,016						433,016
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	6,281											6,281
Net income	439,297
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(13,451)		(14,819)				(14,819)					1,368
Net change in noncontrolling interests	23,842		(12,332)			(12,332)						36,174
Dividends to common stockholders—$2.1425 per share	(1,172,653)		(1,172,653)						(1,172,653)
Issuance of common stock	942,338		942,338		3,829	938,509
Issuance of common stock for stock plans, restricted stock grants and other	61,973		61,973		230	61,875					(132)
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(7,388)		(7,388)			(7,388)
Redemption of OP Units	(738)		(738)		1	(739)
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2019	10,545,452		10,445,892		93,185	14,056,453	(34,564)		(3,669,050)		(132)	99,560
Increase (decrease) in shareholders' equity
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	439,149		439,149						439,149
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,036
Net income	441,185
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(18,213)		(19,790)				(19,790)					1,577
Net change in noncontrolling interests	3,078		8,227			8,227						(5,149)
Dividends to common stockholders—$2.1425 per share	(800,475)		(800,475)						(800,475)
Issuance of common stock	66,011		66,011		371	65,640
Issuance of common stock for stock plans, restricted stock grants and other	22,779		22,779		79	22,568					132
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	18,638		18,638			18,638
Redemption of OP Units	(264)		(264)			(264)
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 10,278,191		$ 10,180,167		$ 93,635	$ 14,171,262	$ (54,354)		$ (4,030,376)		$ 0	$ 98,024