v2.4.0.6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Total | Total Ventas Stockholders' Equity | Common Stock Par Value | Capital in Excess of Par Value | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Retained Earnings (Deficit) | Treasury Stock | Noncontrolling Interest | Comprehensive Income
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008 | $ 2,179,735 | $ 2,160,598 | $ 35,825 | $ 2,264,125 | $ (21,089) | $ (117,806) | $ (457) | $ 19,137 |
Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) | 269,360 | 266,495 |  |  |  | 266,495 |  | 2,865 | 269,360
Foreign currency translation | 23,552 | 23,552 |  |  | 23,552 |  |  |  | 23,552
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities | 17,327 | 17,327 |  |  | 17,327 |  |  |  | 17,327
Other | (121) | (121) |  |  | (121) |  |  |  | (121)
Comprehensive income | 310,118 | 307,253 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,865 | 310,118
Net change in noncontrolling interest | (3,119) | 334 |  | 334 |  |  |  | (3,453) |
Dividends to common stockholders - $2.30 in 2011, $2.14 in 2010 and $2.05 in 2009 per share respectively | (314,399) | (314,399) |  |  |  | (314,399) |  |  |
Issuance of common stock | 299,201 | 299,201 | 3,266 | 295,935 |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock plans | 13,024 | 13,024 | 30 | 12,819 |  |  | 175 |  |
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures | (500) | (500) | 39 | (174) |  |  | (365) |  |
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009 | 2,484,060 | 2,465,511 | 39,160 | 2,573,039 | 19,669 | (165,710) | (647) | 18,549 |
Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) | 249,729 | 246,167 |  |  |  | 246,167 |  | 3,562 | 249,729
Foreign currency translation | 6,951 | 6,951 |  |  | 6,951 |  |  |  | 6,951
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities | 354 | 354 |  |  | 354 |  |  |  | 354
Other | (106) | (106) |  |  | (106) |  |  |  | (106)
Comprehensive income | 256,928 | 253,366 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,562 | 256,928
Net change in noncontrolling interest | (37,135) | (18,503) |  | (18,503) |  |  |  | (18,632) |
Dividends to common stockholders - $2.30 in 2011, $2.14 in 2010 and $2.05 in 2009 per share respectively | (336,085) | (336,085) |  |  |  | (336,085) |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock plans | 24,644 | 24,644 | 197 | 21,076 |  |  | 3,371 |  |
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures | (2,207) | (2,207) | 34 | 1,231 |  |  | (3,472) |  |
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010 | 2,390,205 | 2,386,726 | 39,391 | 2,576,843 | 26,868 | (255,628) | (748) | 3,479 |
Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) | 363,261 | 364,493 |  |  |  | 364,493 |  | (1,232) | 363,261
Foreign currency translation | (1,944) | (1,944) |  |  | (1,944) |  |  |  | (1,944)
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities | (2,691) | (2,691) |  |  | (2,691) |  |  |  | (2,691)
Other | (171) | (171) |  |  | (171) |  |  |  | (171)
Comprehensive income | 358,455 | 359,687 |  |  |  |  |  | (1,232) | 358,455
Acquisition-related activity | 6,819,128 | 6,737,936 | 31,181 | 6,711,081 |  |  | (4,326) | 81,192 |
Net change in noncontrolling interest | (5,640) | (3,188) |  | (3,188) |  |  |  | (2,452) |
Dividends to common stockholders - $2.30 in 2011, $2.14 in 2010 and $2.05 in 2009 per share respectively | (521,046) | (521,046) |  |  |  | (521,046) |  |  |
Issuance of common stock | 299,558 | 299,558 | 1,627 | 297,931 |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock plans | 22,301 | 22,301 | 9 | 18,999 |  |  | 3,293 |  |
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value | (4,442) | (4,442) |  | (4,442) |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of OP units | (52) | (52) |  | (52) |  |  |  |  |
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures | (2,523) | (2,523) | 32 | (3,589) |  |  | 1,034 |  |
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011 | $ 9,355,944 | $ 9,274,957 | $ 72,240 | $ 9,593,583 | $ 22,062 | $ (412,181) | $ (747) | $ 80,987 |

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- Definition Additional equity value during the period related to acquisitions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_AdditionsToComponentsOfEquityDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Adjustments to additional paid in capital redeemable Op unitholder interests to current fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalRedeemableOpUnitholderInterestsToCurrentFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital Stock, Purchase of Limited Partnership Units. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalStockPurchaseOfLimitedPartnershipUnits
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net increase or decrease in balance of noncontrolling interest in the subsidiary during the reporting period related to items not individually reported. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_MinorityInterestPeriodIncreaseDecreaseOther
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration