v2.4.0.6

Loans Receivable (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 property	Dec. 31, 2010 property	Dec. 31, 2009
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Proceeds from loans receivable	$ 220,179,000	$ 19,291,000	$ 8,028,000
Secured loans receivable, net	212,577,000	149,263,000
Number of assets taken through foreclosure	4	2
Carrying amount of assets taken through foreclosure		16,000,000
NHP
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Mortgage loans receivable	271,700,000
Number of senior housing and healthcare properties	53
Other unsecured loans	60,500,000
Secured loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Proceeds from loans receivable	218,500,000
Number of secured loans repaid	8
Gain (loss) on repayment of loans receivable	4,400,000
First Mortgage loan maturing in 2012
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Mortgage loans acquired through sourcing and servicing agreement			6,500,000
First Mortgage loan maturing in 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Interest rate on loans issued (as a percent)		9.25%
Mortgage loans acquired, discount (as a percent)		17.00%
Mortgage loans acquired through sourcing and servicing agreement		19,000,000
First Mortgage loan maturing in 2016
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Principal amount of mortgage debt	12,900,000
Interest rate on loans issued (as a percent)	9.00%
Unsecured loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable
Number of unsecured loans receivable	2
Additional loans receivable	$ 6,700,000

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The stated interest rate on the mortgage loan receivable or the weighted average interest rate on a group of loans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882300&loc=d3e5864-122674

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Total amount of new mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.6)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882300&loc=d3e5864-122674

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNewMortgageLoans
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale and collection of loans receivables arising from the financing of goods and services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 15, 16

-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

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfLoansReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the amount of additional loans receivable made during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_AdditionalLoansReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to mortgage loans receivable acquired.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationMortgageLoansReceivableAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to unsecured loans receivable acquired.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationUnsecuredLoansReceivableAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the carrying amount of assets taken through foreclosure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_CarryingAmountOfAssetsTakenThroughForeclosure
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the details pertaining to gain (loss) on repayment of loans receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_GainLossOnRepaymentOfLoansReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the discount on mortgage loans on real estate acquired during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateAcquiredDiscountPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the mortgage loans acquired through sourcing and servicing agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateAcquiredThroughSourcingAndServicingAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the number of assets taken through foreclosure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_NumberOfAssetsTakenThroughForeclosure
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the number of loans repaid during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_NumberOfLoansRepaid
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The number of properties held as security.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_NumberOfPropertiesHeldAsSecurity
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the number of existing unsecured loans receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_NumberOfUnsecuredLoansReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, a secured amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_SecuredNotesAndLoansReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant