v3.7.0.1

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2016 property | Jun. 30, 2017 property tenant
Real estate properties |  |
Number of real estate properties |  | 1,300
Number of properties leased |  | 580
Concentration risk, number of tenants | tenant |  | 3
Number of senior housing community included in senior living operations | 1 | 1
Brookdale Senior Living |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of properties leased |  | 141
Number of senior housing community included in senior living operations |  | 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
Development Projects |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of real estate properties |  | 8
Number of properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities |  | (1)
Seniors Housing Communities |  |
Real estate properties |  |
Number of independent third party managed properties |  | 301

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 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 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
- Definition Number of Senior Housing Community + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vtr_NumberofSeniorHousingCommunity
Namespace Prefix: | vtr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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_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: |