Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Ventas stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued
Common stock, par value	$ 0.25	$ 0.25
Common stock, shares authorized	600,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	287,962,000	157,279,000
Treasury stock, shares	37,000	14,000