v2.4.0.6

Litigation (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Nov. 30, 2011 HCP Inc | Aug. 31, 2011 HCP Inc | Nov. 30, 2011 Litigation relation to the Sunrise REIT Acquisition | Sep. 30, 2009 Litigation relation to the Sunrise REIT Acquisition | Apr. 30, 2011 Litigation relation to the NHP Acquisition action | Mar. 31, 2011 Litigation relation to the NHP Acquisition action | Feb. 28, 2011 Litigation relation to the NHP Acquisition action lawsuit jurisdiction | Dec. 31, 2011 Litigation Relating to the Cogdell Acquisition jurisdiction Y
Loss contingencies |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment for judgment plus costs and interest |  |  |  |  | $ 102,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lawsuits filed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 | 7
Amount paid in final settlement of outstanding litigation |  |  |  | 125,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Donation to Ventas Charitable Foundation |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from compensatory damages award and the final settlement | 202,259,000 | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of lawsuits filed against Ventas |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |
Number of lawsuits filed against a subsidiary of Ventas |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |
Number of jurisdictions where lawsuits were filed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 | 2
Number of putative class actions asserting derivative claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |
Number of class actions consolidated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |
Number of putative class action complaints filed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |
Compensatory damages, awarded in litigation related to the Sunrise REIT acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 101,600,000 |  |  |  |

X
- Definition The net proceeds or assets obtained in excess of (less than) the net carrying amount of assets recorded, or assets distributed and liabilities assumed less than (in excess of) estimated litigation liability extinguished, in settlement of a litigation matter. Represents (for other than an insurance entity in its normal claims settlement process), the amount of income (expense) recognized in the period to settle pending or threatened litigation and insurance claims. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the gross amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation occurring during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 27 -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
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- Definition Cash received for the settlement of litigation during the current period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 27 -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
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- Definition The number of jurisdictions where lawsuits were filed. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of lawsuits filed against the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of putative class action complaints filed during the period in which the entity was named as one of the defendants. + References No definition available. + Details
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