v2.4.0.6

Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2010 Todd W. Lillibridge Intellectual Property Rights Purchase and Sale Agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 ATRIA Senior Living management fee	Dec. 31, 2011 ATRIA Senior Living management fee	Dec. 31, 2012 Medical office buildings Sutter Health	Dec. 31, 2012 Medical office buildings Pacific Medical Buildings LLC
Related party transaction
Ownership interests in properties (as a percent)					82.80%
Property leased by related party (as a percent)				100.00%
Related party costs		$ 33.9	$ 20.2
Aggregate purchase price for certain derivative trademarks, design marks and slogans	$ 3.0

X

- Definition

The aggregate cost of a major indefinite-lived intangible asset class acquired, during the period, either individually or as part of a group of assets (in either an asset acquisition or business combination).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16265-109275



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 44

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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_AcquiredIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Direct costs arising from transactions with related parties who are not affiliates or joint Ventures. These costs are categorized as cost of goods sold.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 57

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph k

-Subparagraph 1

-Article 4



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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

X

- Details

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

X

- Definition

Represents the percentage of ownership interests in properties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_JvOwnershipInterests
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the properties under development, expected to be leased by the related party pursuant to long-term triple-net leases, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vtr_PropertiesUnderDevelopmentExpectedToBeLeasedByRelatedPartyExpressedAsPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	vtr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant