CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012 9% Senior Notes due 2012	May 31, 2012 9% Senior Notes due 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 9% Senior Notes due 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2017	May 31, 2012 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2017	Dec. 31, 2011 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2017	Jun. 30, 2012 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 6.25% Senior Notes due 2013	Dec. 31, 2011 6.25% Senior Notes due 2013	Jun. 30, 2012 6% Senior Notes due 2015	Dec. 31, 2011 6% Senior Notes due 2015	Jun. 30, 2012 6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	Dec. 31, 2011 6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	Jun. 30, 2012 6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	Dec. 31, 2011 6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	Jun. 30, 2012 Ventas, Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 Ventas, Inc.	Jun. 30, 2011 Ventas, Inc.	Dec. 31, 2010 Ventas, Inc.	Jun. 30, 2012 Ventas Issuers	Dec. 31, 2011 Ventas Issuers	Jun. 30, 2012 Ventas Subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2011 Ventas Subsidiaries	Jun. 30, 2011 Ventas Subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2010 Ventas Subsidiaries	Jun. 30, 2012 Consolidated Eliminations	Dec. 31, 2011 Consolidated Eliminations
Condensed financial statements, captions
Interest rate (as a percent)						9.00%	9.00%	9.00%	6.75%	6.75%	6.75%	8.25%	8.25%	6.25%	6.25%	6.00%	6.00%	6.90%	6.90%	6.59%	6.59%
Assets
Net real estate investments	$ 17,041,782,000	$ 16,231,612,000																				$ 7,918,000	$ 309,000			$ 428,933,000	$ 519,042,000	$ 16,604,931,000	$ 15,712,261,000
Cash and cash equivalents	52,803,000	45,807,000	26,702,000	41,899,000	21,812,000																	2,717,000	2,335,000	(82,746,000)	1,083,000			50,086,000	43,472,000	109,448,000	20,729,000
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	114,883,000	76,590,000																				40,867,000	1,971,000			4,547,000	7,513,000	69,469,000	67,106,000
Deferred financing costs, net	25,750,000	26,669,000																				757,000	757,000			18,558,000	19,239,000	6,435,000	6,673,000
Investment in and advances to affiliates																						9,498,718,000	8,612,893,000			1,867,145,000	1,728,635,000					(11,365,863,000)	(10,341,528,000)
Other assets	987,043,000	891,232,000																				67,212,000	54,415,000			4,541,000	47,063,000	915,290,000	789,754,000
Total assets	18,222,261,000	17,271,910,000																				9,618,189,000	8,672,680,000			2,323,724,000	2,321,492,000	17,646,211,000	16,619,266,000			(11,365,863,000)	(10,341,528,000)
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	7,204,727,000	6,429,116,000																								3,212,867,000	2,593,176,000	3,991,860,000	3,835,940,000
Intercompany loans																						2,209,248,000	(68,408,000)			(2,629,189,000)	(655,914,000)	419,941,000	724,322,000
Accrued interest	47,842,000	37,694,000																								21,099,000	12,561,000	26,743,000	25,133,000
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,059,385,000	1,085,597,000																				82,251,000	86,101,000			6,131,000	18,162,000	971,003,000	981,334,000
Deferred income taxes	271,066,000	260,722,000																				271,066,000	260,722,000
Total liabilities	8,583,020,000	7,813,129,000																				2,562,565,000	278,415,000			610,908,000	1,967,985,000	5,409,547,000	5,566,729,000
Redeemable OP unitholder interests	116,635,000	102,837,000																										116,635,000	102,837,000
Total equity	9,522,606,000	9,355,944,000			2,390,205,000																	7,055,624,000	8,394,265,000			1,712,816,000	353,507,000	12,120,029,000	10,949,700,000			(11,365,863,000)	(10,341,528,000)
Total liabilities and equity	$ 18,222,261,000	$ 17,271,910,000																				$ 9,618,189,000	$ 8,672,680,000			$ 2,323,724,000	$ 2,321,492,000	$ 17,646,211,000	$ 16,619,266,000			$ (11,365,863,000)	$ (10,341,528,000)