v3.2.0.727

INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 property
Equity method investments
Number of real estate properties	1,600		1,600
Management fees earned in connection with unconsolidated entities | $	$ 1.8	$ 2.0	$ 3.7	$ 4.2
ATRIA
Equity method investments
Ownership interests accounted for under the equity method (as a percent)	34.00%		34.00%		34.00%
Unconsolidated Properties
Equity method investments
Number of real estate properties	51		51		51
Unconsolidated Properties | Minimum
Equity method investments
Ownership interests accounted for under the equity method (as a percent)	5.00%		5.00%		5.00%
Unconsolidated Properties | Maximum
Equity method investments
Ownership interests accounted for under the equity method (as a percent)	25.00%		25.00%		25.00%

X

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

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



-Publisher FASB



-Name Accounting Standards Codification



-Topic 323



-SubTopic 10



-Section 50



-Paragraph 3



-Subparagraph (a)(1)



-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Revenue, comprised of base and incentive revenue derived from the management of joint ventures, managing third-party properties, or another entity's operations.

+ References

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



-Publisher FASB



-Name Accounting Standards Codification



-Topic 225



-SubTopic 10



-Section S99



-Paragraph 2



-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))



-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ManagementFeesRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=vtr_AtriaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=us-gaap_UnconsolidatedPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: