v3.7.0.1

ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Accounting for Historic and New Markets Tax Credits (Details)	Jun. 30, 2017 property
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	1,300
Wexford Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	10
Development Assets | Wexford Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties	2

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_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=vtr_WexfordAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=vtr_DevelopmentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: