v2.4.0.6

Acquisitions of Real Estate Property (Details 6) (Other Acquisitions, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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