CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balances at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,035,299	$ 1,254	$ 1,970,820	$ (46,800)	$ (888,960)	$ (1,015)	$ 1,035,299	$ 0
Balances at beginning of period - shares (in share) at Dec. 31, 2011		125,354,000
Compensation expense related to restricted stock grants	25,520	0	25,520	0	0	0	25,520	0
Net loss	(66,467)us-gaap_ProfitLoss	0	0	0	(66,467)	0	(66,467)	0
Issuance of common stock under Associate Stock Purchase Plan	1,401	0	1,401	0	0	0	1,401	0
Issuance of common stock under Associate Stock Purchase Plan - shares (in shares)		74,000
Restricted stock, net	(87)	13	(100)	0	0	0	(87)	0
Restricted stock, net - shares (in shares)		1,261,000
Unrealized (gain) loss on marketable securities - restricted	1,846	0	0	0	0	1,846	1,846	0
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)	0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Other	(526)us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther	0	305	0	0	(831)	(526)	0
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	996,986	1,267	1,997,946	(46,800)	(955,427)	0	996,986	0
Balances at end of period - shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		126,689,000
Compensation expense related to restricted stock grants	25,978	0	25,978	0	0	0	25,978	0
Net loss	(3,584)us-gaap_ProfitLoss	0	0	0	(3,584)	0	(3,584)	0
Issuance of common stock under Associate Stock Purchase Plan	1,503	0	1,503	0	0	0	1,503	0
Issuance of common stock under Associate Stock Purchase Plan - shares (in shares)		62,000
Restricted stock, net	0	10	(10)	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock, net - shares (in shares)		976,000
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)	0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Other	54us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther	0	54	0	0	0	54	0
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	1,020,937	1,277	2,025,471	(46,800)	(959,011)	0	1,020,937	0
Balances at end of period - shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	127,726,611us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding	127,727,000
Compensation expense related to restricted stock grants	28,299	0	28,299	0	0	0	28,299	0
Establishment of noncontrolling interest in Emeritus acquisition	953	0	0	0	0	0	0	953
Net loss	(149,426)us-gaap_ProfitLoss	0	0	0	(148,990)	0	(148,990)	(436)
Common stock issued in connection with Emeritus acquisition	1,648,782	476	1,648,306	0	0	0	1,648,782	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions	47,584,000	47,584,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	330,386	103	330,283	0	0	0	330,386	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	10,298,506	10,299,000
Issuance of common stock under Associate Stock Purchase Plan	2,004	0	2,004	0	0	0	2,004	0
Issuance of common stock under Associate Stock Purchase Plan - shares (in shares)		64,000
Restricted stock, net	0	14	(14)	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock, net - shares (in shares)		1,364,000
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)	0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Other	306us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther	0	306	0	0	0	306	0
Balances at end of period at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 2,882,241	$ 1,870	$ 4,034,655	$ (46,800)	$ (1,108,001)	$ 0	$ 2,881,724	$ 517
Balances at end of period - shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	187,037,994us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding	187,038,000

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section F