<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000740260-19-000047.txt : 20190212
<SEC-HEADER>0000740260-19-000047.hdr.sgml : 20190212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190212172905
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000740260-19-000047
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190212
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190212

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bulgarelli Peter J.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001736887

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10989
		FILM NUMBER:		19592181

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		353 N. CLARK STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3300
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60654

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VENTAS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000740260
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				611055020
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		353 N. CLARK STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3300
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60654
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126603800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		353 N. CLARK STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3300
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60654
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_155001053049370.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-02-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000740260</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VENTAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001736887</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bulgarelli Peter J.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>353 N CLARK ST STE 3300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60654</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres&amp;CEO-LHS/EVP Office-Ventas</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8809</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>63.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17843</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units granted by Issuer pursuant to the Ventas, Inc. 2012 Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;). Such units are payable solely in common stock and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The restricted stock units vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter J. Bulgarelli, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-02-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
