v3.5.0.2

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details) | Sep. 30, 2016 property tenant | Dec. 31, 2015 property
--- | --- | ---
Real estate properties |  |
Number of real estate properties | 1,300 |
Number of properties leased | 575 |
Number of real estate properties | 39 |
Number of properties classified as held-for-sale | 32 | 11
Brookdale Senior Living |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities | 6 |
Number of properties leased | 140 |
Number of properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities, pursuant to management agreement | 1 |
Kindred |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities | 1 |
Number of properties leased | 68 |
Ardent |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of properties leased | 10 |
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. and Kindred Healthcare, Inc. |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Concentration risk, number of tenants | tenant | 3 |
Triple-Net Leased Properties |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of real estate properties | 34 |
Number of properties classified as held-for-sale | 25 | 2
Development Projects |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of real estate properties | 5 |
Number of properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities | 2 |
Seniors Housing Communities |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of independent third party managed properties | 298 |

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_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Concentration Risk, Number of Tenants + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_ConcentrationRiskNumberofTenants
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of properties that are managed by the independent third party. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfIndependentThirdPartyManagedProperties
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of properties that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfPropertiesAccountedForUnderEquityMethod
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the number of the properties which are classified as held for sale. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfPropertiesClassifiedAsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Properties Included in Investments in Unconsolidated Entities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfPropertiesIncludedInInvestmentsInUnconsolidatedEntities
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number Of Properties Included In Investments In Unconsolidated Entities, Pursuant To Management Agreement + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfPropertiesIncludedInInvestmentsInUnconsolidatedEntitiesPursuantToManagementAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of properties owned that are leased to unaffiliated tenants under triple-net lease terms. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberOfPropertiesLeasedUnderTripleNetLeases
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | vtr_PropertySubjectToOperatingLeaseByLessorAxis=vtr_BrookdaleSeniorLivingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | vtr_PropertySubjectToOperatingLeaseByLessorAxis=vtr_KindredMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | vtr_PropertySubjectToOperatingLeaseByLessorAxis=vtr_ArdentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=vtr_BrookdaleSeniorLivingInc.andKindredHealthcareInc.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=vtr_TripleNetLeasedPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=vtr_DevelopmentProjectsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=vtr_SeniorHousingCommunitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |