v2.4.0.6

Acquisitions of Real Estate Property (Details 6) (Other Acquisitions, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2009 property
Four MOBs |
Business acquisition |
Number of Medical office buildings | 4
Purchase price of acquisition of assets | $ 77.7
Noncontrolling interest included in purchase price of acquisition | 1.7
Number of MOBs own through joint venture | 1
Skilled nursing facilities |
Business acquisition |
Number of properties acquired | 1
Purchase price of acquisition of assets | $ 10.0
Two MOBs |
Business acquisition |
Number of medical office buildings developed | 2
Maximum number of MOBs to be developed under the exclusive right | 10
Number of states in which MOBs to be developed in hospital campus | 8

X
- Definition The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the fair value of the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph p(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (e)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4845-128472 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionOfLessThan100PercentNoncontrollingInterestFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the maximum number of properties are to be developed under the exclusive right. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_MaximumNumberOfMedicalOfficeBuildingsToBeDevelopedUnderExclusiveRight
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of medical office buildings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfMedicalOfficeBuildings
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of medical office buildings developed during the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfMedicalOfficeBuildingsDeveloped
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of properties that are owned through a consolidated joint venture. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfMedicalOfficeBuildingsOwnedThroughJointVenture
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of properties acquired by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of state in which properties are to be developed under the exclusive right. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfStatesInWhichMedicalOfficeBuildingsToBeDeveloped
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration