Acquisitions of Real Estate Property (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
The effect of material acquisitions on net income and earnings per share
Revenues	$ 565,424	$ 556,779	$ 1,698,376	$ 1,625,552
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	183,517	90,891	399,249	280,216
Discontinued operations		542		7,139
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 183,517	$ 91,433	$ 399,249	$ 287,355
Basic:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.64	$ 0.32	$ 1.39	$ 1.00
Discontinued operations		$ 0.00		$ 0.02
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.64	$ 0.32	$ 1.39	$ 1.02
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.63	$ 0.32	$ 1.38	$ 0.99
Discontinued operations		$ 0.00		$ 0.03
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.63	$ 0.32	$ 1.38	$ 1.02
Weighted average shares used in computing earnings per common share:
Basic	287,365	281,439	286,647	281,374
Diluted	290,794	282,749	289,027	282,261

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6909870&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 54

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 55

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph r(2, 3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma income from continuing operations before changes in accounting and extraordinary items, net of tax effect per basic share of common stock for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaIncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeChangesInAccountingAndExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerShareBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma income from continuing operations before changes in accounting and extraordinary items, net of tax effect, per diluted share of common stock for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaIncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeChangesInAccountingAndExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTaxPerShareDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma income from continuing operations before changes in accounting and extraordinary items, net of tax effect, for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaIncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeChangesInAccountingAndExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDilutedAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average number of shares or units and dilutive common stock or unit equivalents outstanding in the calculation of proforma diluted earnings per share (earnings per unit), which is commonly presented in initial public offerings based on the terms of the offering.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProFormaWeightedAverageSharesOutstandingDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average number of shares (units) outstanding in the calculation of pro forma basic earnings per share (earnings per unit), which is commonly presented in initial public offerings based on the terms of the offering.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WeightedAverageBasicSharesOutstandingProForma
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma income loss from discontinued operations net of tax per basic share for the period, as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

+ Details

Name:	vtr_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare
Namespace Prefix:	vtr
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma income loss from discontinued operations net of tax per diluted share for the period, as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

+ Details

Name:	vtr_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare
Namespace Prefix:	vtr
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma income loss from discontinued operations net of tax for the period, as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period

+ Details

Name:	vtr_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	vtr
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration