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CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) property state province shares	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) property state province shares	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Concentration Risk
Number of Properties Held for Sale \| property	1,300		1,300
Cash and cash equivalents \| $	$ 143,770		$ 143,770		$ 413,327
Non-mortgage loans receivable, net \| $	63,989		63,989		57,077
Rental income \| $	383,052	$ 354,512	1,100,003	$ 1,126,934
Secured/mortgage loans and other, net
Concentration Risk
Debt securities, held-to-maturity \| $	$ 488,999		$ 488,999		$ 555,840
Consolidated Seniors Housing Communities
Concentration Risk
Number of Properties Held for Sale \| property	542		542
Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration Risk
Number of securities called by warrants \| shares	16.3		16.3
Atria and Sunrise \| Consolidated Seniors Housing Communities
Concentration Risk
Number of Properties Held for Sale \| property	279		279
Experienced Operators \| Senior Living Communities, Operations to be Transitioned \| Scenario, Plan
Concentration Risk
Number of Properties Held for Sale \| property	90		90
Customer Concentration Risk \| Total Gross Book Value of Properties \| Hospitals, Medical Office Building and Other
Concentration Risk
Concentration percentage			33.30%
Customer Concentration Risk \| Total Gross Book Value of Properties \| Senior Living Operations \| Senior Housing Communities
Concentration Risk
Concentration percentage			52.40%
Customer Concentration Risk \| Total Gross Book Value of Properties \| Triple-Net Leased Properties \| Senior Housing Communities
Concentration Risk
Concentration percentage			14.30%
Customer Concentration Risk \| Total Gross Book Value of Properties \| Atria
Concentration Risk
Concentration percentage			19.90%
Customer Concentration Risk \| Total Gross Book Value of Properties \| Sunrise
Concentration Risk
Concentration percentage			10.00%
Customer Concentration Risk \| Total Gross Book Value of Properties \| Brookdale Senior Living
Concentration Risk
Concentration percentage			7.90%
Customer Concentration Risk \| Total Gross Book Value of Properties \| Ardent
Concentration Risk
Concentration percentage			4.70%
Customer Concentration Risk \| Total Gross Book Value of Properties \| Kindred
Concentration Risk
Concentration percentage			1.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk
Concentration Risk
Number of states in which entity operates \| state	47		47
Number of states accounting for more than 10% of total revenues and net operating income \| state	1		1
Continuing revenues and NOI threshold			10.00%
Geographic Concentration Risk \| CANADA
Concentration Risk
Number of Canadian provinces in which entity operates \| province	7		7