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, 2018	$ 10,271,594	$ 638	$ 10,215,857	$ 638	$ 89,125	$ 13,076,528	$ (19,582)	$ (163)	$ (2,930,214)	$ 801	$ 0	$ 55,737
Increase (decrease) in shareholders' equity
Net income	439,297		433,016						433,016			6,281
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—$1.80 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	441,185		439,149						439,149			2,036
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—$1.80 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)			98,024
Increase (decrease) in shareholders' equity
Net income	56,559		49,008						49,008			7,551
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(7,298)		(10,166)				(10,166)					2,868
Acquisition-related activity	751,248		751,248		3,332	747,916
Net change in noncontrolling interests	(75,993)		(58,925)			(58,925)						(17,068)
Dividends to common stockholders—$1.80 per share	(698,521)		(698,521)						(698,521)
Issuance of common stock	0		0		0	0
Issuance of common stock for stock plans, restricted stock grants and other	652,736		652,736		2,871	649,941					(76)
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	(11,178)		(11,178)			(11,178)
Redemption of OP Units	16		16			(60)					76
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 10,945,760		$ 10,854,385		$ 99,838	$ 15,498,956	$ (64,520)		$ (4,679,889)		$ 0	$ 91,375