Ventas (VTR) 10-Q 25 Oct 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 23, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	VENTAS INC
Entity Central Index Key	740260
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		294,080,886

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Real estate investments:
Land and improvements	$1,856,739	$1,772,417
Buildings and improvements	18,383,075	16,920,821
Construction in progress	79,172	70,665
Acquired lease intangibles	1,012,163	981,704
Gross real estate investments	21,331,149	19,745,607
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-3,156,206	-2,634,075
Net real estate property	18,174,943	17,111,532
Secured loans receivable and investments, net	400,889	635,002
Investments in unconsolidated entities	91,531	95,409
Net real estate investments	18,667,363	17,841,943
Cash and cash equivalents	54,672	67,908
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	98,200	105,913
Deferred financing costs, net	55,242	42,551
Other assets	1,003,881	921,685
Total assets	19,879,358	18,980,000
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	9,413,318	8,413,646
Accrued interest	62,176	47,565
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,019,166	995,156
Deferred income taxes	248,369	259,715
Total liabilities	10,743,029	9,716,082
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	171,921	174,555
Commitments and contingencies
Ventas stockholders' equity:
unissued	0	0
Common stock, $0.25 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, 296,940 and 295,565 shares issued at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	74,345	73,904
Capital in excess of par value	10,032,285	9,920,962
Accumulated other comprehensive income	21,293	23,354
Retained earnings (deficit)	-1,021,628	-777,927
Treasury stock, 3,698 and 3,698 shares at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	-221,203	-221,165
Total Ventas stockholders' equity	8,885,092	9,019,128
Noncontrolling interest	79,316	70,235
Total equity	8,964,408	9,089,363
Total liabilities and equity	$19,879,358	$18,980,000

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1	$1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000	10,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.25	$0.25
Common stock, shares authorized	600,000	600,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	297,328	295,565
Treasury stock, shares	3,699	3,699

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_INC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Rental income:
Triple-net leased	$219,170	$207,372	$645,719	$613,939
Medical office buildings	115,444	100,814	337,536	253,889
Total rental income	334,614	308,186	983,255	867,828
Resident fees and services	359,112	316,560	1,039,876	905,190
Medical office building and other services revenue	4,146	4,544	11,331	16,791
Income from loans and investments	14,448	9,035	45,284	25,223
Interest and other income	66	330	1,901	442
Total revenues	712,386	638,655	2,081,647	1,815,474
Expenses:
Interest	84,089	74,037	245,622	214,028
Depreciation and amortization	177,710	188,540	528,180	534,792
Property-level operating expenses:
Senior living	244,316	216,306	706,561	618,471
Medical office buildings	40,796	36,144	115,738	86,468
Total property-level operating expenses	285,112	252,450	822,299	704,939
Medical office building services costs	1,651	1,487	4,957	8,314
General, administrative and professional fees	28,659	26,867	84,760	75,488
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net	-189	-1,194	-909	38,339
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	6,208	4,917	17,137	49,566
Other	4,353	1,966	13,325	5,052
Total expenses	587,593	549,070	1,715,371	1,630,518
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	124,793	89,585	366,276	184,956
Income from unconsolidated entities	110	17,074	533	17,905
Income tax benefit	2,780	8,886	13,100	2,727
Income from continuing operations	127,683	115,545	379,909	205,588
Discontinued operations	-9,084	-3,724	-33,679	70,061
Net income	118,599	111,821	346,230	275,649
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	303	-61	1,161	-884
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$118,296	$111,882	$345,069	$276,533
Basic:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$0.43	$0.39	$1.30	$0.71
Discontinued operations	($0.03)	($0.01)	($0.12)	$0.24
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$0.40	$0.38	$1.18	$0.95
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$0.43	$0.39	$1.28	$0.70
Discontinued operations	($0.03)	($0.01)	($0.11)	$0.24
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$0.40	$0.38	$1.17	$0.94
Weighted average shares used in computing earnings per common share:
Basic	292,818	294,928	292,308	291,177
Diluted	295,190	297,407	294,788	293,622
Dividends declared per common share	$0.67	$0.62	$2.01	$1.86

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$118,599	$111,821	$346,230	$275,649	$361,775
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	1,665	2,838	-3,148	3,180
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	-208	-509	-1,015	-1,220
Other	84	-107	2,102	-396
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,541	2,222	-2,061	1,564	1,292
Comprehensive income	120,140	114,043	344,169	277,213
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	303	-61	1,161	-884
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$119,837	$114,104	$343,008	$278,097

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_EQU

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Total Ventas Stockholders' Equity	Common Stock Par Value	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$9,355,944	$9,274,957	$72,240	$9,593,583	$22,062	($412,181)	($747)	$80,987
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income (loss)	361,775	362,800				362,800		-1,025
Other comprehensive income	1,292	1,292			1,292
Acquisition-related activity	-239,076	-229,647		-8,571			-221,076	-9,429
Net change in noncontrolling interest	-5,194							-5,194
Dividends to common stockholders	-728,546	-728,546				-728,546
Issuance of common stock	342,469	342,469	1,495	340,974
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	25,095	25,095	128	22,126			2,841
Change in redeemable noncontrolling interest	-12,421	-17,317		-17,317				4,896
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	-19,819	-19,819		-19,819
Purchase of OP units	-1,324	-1,324	3	-1,651			324
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	9,168	9,168	38	11,637			-2,507
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	9,089,363	9,019,128	73,904	9,920,962	23,354	-777,927	-221,165	70,235
Increase (decrease) in stockholders' equity
Net income (loss)	346,230	345,069				345,069		1,161
Other comprehensive income	-2,061	-2,061			-2,061
Acquisition-related activity	11,955	-762		-762				12,717
Net change in noncontrolling interest	-6,530							-6,530
Dividends to common stockholders	-588,770	-588,770				-588,770
Issuance of common stock	106,002	106,002	376	105,626
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	10,899	10,899	17	4,926			5,956
Change in redeemable noncontrolling interest	-11,621	-13,354		-13,354				1,733
Adjust redeemable OP unitholder interests to current fair value	2,538	2,538		2,538
Purchase of OP units	114	114		-388			502
Grant of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	6,289	6,289	48	12,737			-6,496
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$8,964,408	$8,885,092	$74,345	$10,032,285	$21,293	($1,021,628)	($221,203)	$79,316

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_EQU1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Dividends to common stockholders, per share (in dollars per share)	$2.01	$2.48

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$346,230	$275,649
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amounts in discontinued operations)	569,325	563,027
Amortization of deferred revenue and lease intangibles, net	-11,159	-12,965
Other non-cash amortization	-13,376	-31,326
Stock-based compensation	15,010	16,529
Straight-lining of rental income, net	-21,165	-16,712
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net	-1,062	38,339
Gain on real estate dispositions, net (including amounts in discontinued operations)	-2,241	-79,148
(Gain) loss on real estate loan investments	-3,598	559
Gain on sale of marketable debt securities	-856	0
Income tax benefit (including amounts in discontinued operations)	-13,100	-2,731
Loss (income) from unconsolidated entities	707	-1,260
Gain on re-measurement of equity interest upon acquisition, net	-1,241	-16,645
Other	6,133	6,472
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in other assets	-28,132	-11,930
Increase in accrued interest	14,624	18,730
Decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities	-20,670	-37,269
Net cash provided by operating activities	835,429	709,319
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net investment in real estate property	-1,358,766	-1,154,912
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	-7,895	-3,934
Investment in loans receivable and other	-34,717	-30,523
Proceeds from real estate disposals	29,191	75,145
Proceeds from loans receivable	299,156	34,817
Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities	5,493	0
Funds held in escrow for future development expenditures	15,189	0
Development project expenditures	-74,707	-90,119
Capital expenditures	-50,634	-42,270
Other	-411	-2,110
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,178,101	-1,213,906
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility	-92,586	248,921
Proceeds from debt	1,766,844	1,568,382
Repayment of debt	-840,532	-1,103,000
Payment of deferred financing costs	-19,977	-4,257
Issuance of common stock, net	106,002	342,469
Cash distribution to common stockholders	-588,770	-545,240
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	-3,479	-3,358
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests	2,094	0
Purchases of redeemable OP units	-317	-1,760
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	-7,614	-4,035
Other	7,830	19,130
Net cash provided by financing activities	329,495	517,252
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	-13,177	12,665
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	-59	58
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	67,908	45,807
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	54,672
Assets and liabilities assumed from acquisitions:
Real estate investments	221,447	497,755
Utilization of funds held for an Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 exchange	0	-134,003
Other assets acquired	6,526	99,889
Debt assumed	183,848	367,902
Other liabilities	27,583	60,684
Deferred income tax liability	4,849	4,299
Noncontrolling interests	11,693	26,430
Equity issued	0	4,326
Debt transferred on the sale of assets	$0	$14,535

DESCRIPTION_OF_BUSINESS

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
	Ventas, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated or except where the context otherwise requires, “we,” “us” or “our”), an S&P 500 company, is a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) with a highly diversified portfolio of seniors housing and healthcare properties throughout the United States and Canada. As of September 30, 2013, we owned nearly 1,500 properties, including seniors housing communities, skilled nursing and other facilities, medical office buildings (“MOBs”), and hospitals, in 46 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces, and we had three new projects under development. Our company is currently headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
	We primarily acquire and own seniors housing and healthcare properties and lease them to unaffiliated tenants or operate them through independent third-party managers. As of September 30, 2013, we leased a total of 910 properties (excluding MOBs and properties classified as held for sale) to various healthcare operating companies under “triple-net” or “absolute-net” leases that obligate the tenants to pay all property-related expenses, including maintenance, utilities, repairs, taxes, insurance and capital expenditures, with Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Brookdale Senior Living”) and Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Kindred”) accounting for 145 properties (excluding six properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities) and 143 properties, respectively. As of September 30, 2013, we also engaged independent operators, such as Atria Senior Living, Inc. (“Atria”) and Sunrise Senior Living, LLC (together with its subsidiaries, “Sunrise”), to manage a total of 237 of our seniors housing communities pursuant to long-term management agreements.
	Through our Lillibridge Healthcare Services, Inc. (“Lillibridge”) subsidiary and our ownership interest in PMB Real Estate Services LLC (“PMBRES”), we also provide MOB management, leasing, marketing, facility development and advisory services to highly rated hospitals and health systems throughout the United States. In addition, from time to time, we make secured and unsecured loans and other investments relating to seniors housing and healthcare operators or properties.

ACCOUNTING_POLICIES

ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
ACCOUNTING POLICIES	ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information set forth in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), as published by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim period have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2013. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly owned subsidiaries and the joint venture entities over which we exercise control. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation, and our net earnings are reduced by the portion of net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests.
	GAAP requires us to identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than voting rights and to determine which business enterprise is the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities (“VIEs”). A VIE is broadly defined as an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance the entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack (i) the ability to make decisions about the entity’s activities through voting or similar rights, (ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or (iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the equity investors have voting rights that are not proportional to their economic interests, and substantially all of the entity’s activities either involve, or are conducted on behalf of, an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights. We consolidate our investment in a VIE when we are determined to be its primary beneficiary. We may change our original assessment of a VIE upon subsequent events such as the modification of contractual arrangements that affects the characteristics or adequacy of the entity’s equity investments at risk and the disposition of all or a portion of an interest held by the primary beneficiary.
	We identify the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the entity. We perform this analysis on an ongoing basis. At September 30, 2013, we consolidated all VIEs for which we qualify as the primary beneficiary.
	As it relates to investments in joint ventures, GAAP may preclude consolidation by the sole general partner in certain circumstances based on the type of rights held by the limited partner(s). We assess limited partners’ rights and their impact on the presumption of control of the limited partnership by the sole general partner when an investor becomes the sole general partner, and we reassess if there is a change to the terms or in the exercisability of the rights of the limited partners, the sole general partner increases or decreases its ownership of limited partnership interests, or there is an increase or decrease in the number of outstanding limited partnership interests. We also apply this guidance to managing member interests in limited liability companies.
	Redeemable OP Unitholder and Noncontrolling Interests
	We own a majority interest in NHP/PMB L.P. (“NHP/PMB”), a limited partnership formed in 2008 to acquire properties from entities affiliated with Pacific Medical Buildings LLC. We consolidate NHP/PMB, as our wholly owned subsidiary is the general partner and exercises control of the partnership. As of September 30, 2013, third party investors owned 2,300,419 Class A limited partnership units in NHP/PMB (“OP Units”), which represented 27.2% of the total units then outstanding, and we owned 6,148,481 Class B limited partnership units in NHP/PMB, representing the remaining 72.8%. At any time following the first anniversary of their issuance date, the OP Units may be redeemed at the election of the holder for cash or, at our option, 0.7866 shares of our common stock per unit, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. We are party by assumption to a registration rights agreement with the holders of the OP Units that requires us, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to file and maintain a registration statement relating to the issuance of shares of our common stock upon redemption of OP Units.
	Because redemption rights are beyond our control, we classify the redeemable OP unitholder interests outside of permanent equity on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We reflect the redeemable OP unitholder interests at the greater of cost or fair value. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the fair value of the redeemable OP unitholder interests was $111.7 million and $114.9 million, respectively. We recognize changes in fair value through capital in excess of par value, net of cash distributions paid and purchases by us of any OP Units. Our diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) includes the effect of any potential shares outstanding from redemption of the OP Units.
	Subsequent to September 30, 2013, 158,459 OP units and 132,350 Class B limited partnership units in NHP/PMB were issued in connection with the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest in an existing consolidated MOB by NHP/PMB.
	Certain noncontrolling interests of other consolidated joint ventures were also classified as redeemable at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Accordingly, we record the carrying amount of these noncontrolling interests at the greater of (i) their initial carrying amount, increased or decreased for the noncontrolling interest’s share of net income or loss and distributions, or (ii) the redemption value. With respect to these joint ventures, because our joint venture partner has certain redemption rights that are beyond our control, we classify the redeemable noncontrolling interests outside of permanent equity on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recognize changes in carrying value of redeemable noncontrolling interests through capital in excess of par value.
	Noncontrolling Interests
	Other than redeemable noncontrolling interests described above, we present the portion of any equity that we do not own in entities that we control (and thus consolidate) as noncontrolling interests and classify those interests as a component of consolidated equity, separate from total Ventas stockholders’ equity, on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. For earnings of consolidated joint ventures with pro rata distribution allocations, net income or loss is allocated between the partners in the joint venture based on their respective stated ownership percentages. In other instances, net income or loss is allocated between the partners in the joint venture based on the hypothetical liquidation at book value method (the “HLBV method”). We account for purchases or sales of equity interests that do not result in a change of control as equity transactions, through capital in excess of par value.
	Fair Values of Financial Instruments
	Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement, and we determine fair value based on the assumptions that we expect market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within levels one and two of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within level three of the hierarchy).
	Level one inputs utilize unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that we have the ability to access. Level two inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in level one that are directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability. Level two inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as other inputs for the asset or liability, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and yield curves, that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level three inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on our own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. If the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the hierarchy, the level within which the entire fair value measurement falls is the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. If the volume and level of market activity for an asset or liability has decreased significantly relative to the normal market activity for such asset or liability (or similar assets or liabilities), then transactions or quoted prices may not accurately reflect fair value. In addition, if there is evidence that a transaction for an asset or liability is not orderly, little, if any, weight is placed on that transaction price as an indicator of fair value. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
	We use the following methods and assumptions in estimating the fair value of our financial instruments.
	•	Cash and cash equivalents - The carrying amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.
	•	Loans receivable - We estimate the fair value of loans receivable using level two and level three inputs: we discount future cash flows using current interest rates at which similar loans with the same maturities and same terms would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. Additionally, we determine the valuation allowance for losses, if any, on loans receivable using level three inputs.
	•	Marketable debt securities - Whenever possible, we estimate the fair value of marketable debt securities using level two inputs: we observe quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets that we have the ability to access. In other cases, we estimate the fair value of marketable debt securities using level three inputs: we consider credit spreads, underlying asset performance and quality, default rates and any other applicable criteria.
	•	Derivative instruments - With the assistance of a third party, we estimate the fair value of derivative instruments, including interest rate caps, interest rate swaps, and foreign currency forward contracts, using level two inputs: for interest rate caps, we observe forward yield curves and other relevant information; for interest rate swaps, we observe alternative financing rates derived from market-based financing rates, forward yield curves and discount rates; and for foreign currency forward contracts, we estimate the future values of the two currency tranches using forward exchange rates that are based on traded forward points and calculate a present value of the net amount using a discount factor based on observable traded interest rates.
	•	Senior notes payable and other debt - We estimate the fair value of senior notes payable and other debt using level two inputs: we discount the future cash flows using current interest rates at which we could obtain similar borrowings.
	•	Redeemable OP unitholder interests - We estimate the fair value of the OP Units using level two inputs: we base fair value on the closing price of our common stock, as units may be redeemed at the election of the holder for cash or, at our option, 0.7866 shares of our common stock per unit, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.
	Revenue Recognition
	Triple-Net Leased Properties and MOB Operations
	Certain of our triple-net leases and most of our MOB leases provide for periodic and determinable increases in base rent. We recognize base rental revenues under these leases on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term when collectability is reasonably assured. Recognizing rental income on a straight-line basis generally results in recognized revenues during the first half of a lease term exceeding the cash amounts contractually due from our tenants, creating a straight-line rent receivable that is included in other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, this cumulative excess (net of allowances) totaled $141.5 million and $120.3 million, respectively.
	Four of our five master lease agreements with Kindred (the “Kindred Master Leases”) and certain of our other leases provide for periodic increases in base rent only if certain revenue parameters or other substantive contingencies are met. We recognize the increased rental revenue under these leases as the related parameters or contingencies are met, rather than on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term.
	Senior Living Operations
	We recognize resident fees and services, other than move-in fees, monthly as services are provided. We recognize move-in fees on a straight-line basis over the average resident stay. Our lease agreements with residents generally have a term of 12 months to 18 months and are cancelable by the resident upon 30 days’ notice.
	Other
	We recognize interest income from loans and investments, including discounts and premiums, using the effective interest method when collectibility is reasonably assured. We apply the effective interest method on a loan-by-loan basis and recognize discounts and premiums as yield adjustments over the related loan term. We recognize interest income on an impaired loan to the extent our estimate of the fair value of the collateral is sufficient to support the balance of the loan, other receivables and all related accrued interest. When the balance of the loan, other receivables and all related accrued interest is equal to our estimate of the fair value of the collateral, we recognize interest income on a cash basis. We provide a reserve against an impaired loan to the extent our total investment in the loan exceeds our estimate of the fair value of the loan collateral.
	We recognize income from rent, lease termination fees, development services, management advisory services, and all other income when all of the following criteria are met in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 104: (i) the applicable agreement has been fully executed and delivered; (ii) services have been rendered; (iii) the amount is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectibility is reasonably assured.
	Allowances
	We assess the collectibility of our rent receivables, including straight-line rent receivables, and we defer recognition of revenue if collectibility is not reasonably assured. We base our assessment of the collectibility of rent receivables (other than straight-line rent receivables) on several factors, including, among other things, payment history, the financial strength of the tenant and any guarantors, the value of the underlying collateral, if any, and current economic conditions. If our evaluation of these factors indicates it is probable that we will be unable to recover the full value of the receivable, we provide a reserve against the portion of the receivable that we estimate may not be recovered. We base our assessment of the collectibility of straight-line rent receivables on several factors, including, among other things, the financial strength of the tenant and any guarantors, the historical operations and operating trends of the property, the historical payment pattern of the tenant, and the type of property. If our evaluation of these factors indicates it is probable that we will be unable to receive the rent payments due in the future, we defer recognition of the straight-line rental revenue and, in certain circumstances, provide a reserve against the previously recognized straight-line rent receivable asset for the portion, up to its full value, that we estimate may not be recovered. If we change our assumptions or estimates regarding the collectibility of future rent payments required by a lease, we may adjust our reserve to increase or reduce the rental revenue recognized and/or to increase or reduce the reserve against the previously recognized straight-line rent receivable asset.
	Recently Issued or Adopted Accounting Standards
	In January 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”), which requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income if the amount being reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified in its entirety to net income.  For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income within the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference other disclosures that provide additional detail about the reclassified amounts.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2013-02 on January 1, 2013, and the adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

CONCENTRATION_OF_CREDIT_RISK

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK	CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
	As of September 30, 2013, Atria, Sunrise, Brookdale Senior Living and Kindred managed or operated approximately 19.5%, 13.9%, 9.7% and 3.3%, respectively, of our real estate investments based on gross book value (excluding properties classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2013). Seniors housing communities constituted approximately 63.9% of our real estate investments based on gross book value as of September 30, 2013 (excluding properties classified as held for sale), and skilled nursing and other facilities, MOBs and hospitals collectively comprised the remaining 36.1%. Our properties were located in 46 states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces as of September 30, 2013, with properties in one state (California) accounting for more than 10% of our total revenues and total net operating income (“NOI,” which is defined as total revenues, excluding interest and other income, less property-level operating expenses and medical office building services costs) (in each case excluding amounts in discontinued operations) for the three months then ended.
	Triple-Net Leased Properties
	For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, approximately 5.5% and 6.1%, respectively, of our total revenues and 9.1% and 10.2%, respectively, of our total NOI (in each case excluding amounts in discontinued operations) were derived from our lease agreements with Brookdale Senior Living. For the same periods, approximately 7.6% and 10.1%, respectively, of our total revenues and 12.7% and 16.8%, respectively, of our total NOI (in each case excluding amounts in discontinued operations) were derived from our lease agreements with Kindred. Each of our leases with Brookdale Senior Living and the Kindred Master Leases is a triple-net lease that obligates the tenant to pay all property-related expenses, including maintenance, utilities, repairs, taxes, insurance and capital expenditures, and to comply with the terms of the mortgage financing documents, if any, affecting the properties. In addition, each of these leases has guaranty and cross-default provisions tied to other leases with the same tenant or its affiliates, as well as bundled lease renewals.
	The properties we lease to Brookdale Senior Living and Kindred currently account for a meaningful portion of our total revenues and NOI and, therefore, our financial condition and results of operations could be weakened and our ability to service our indebtedness and to make distributions to our stockholders could be limited if either Brookdale Senior Living or Kindred becomes unable or unwilling to satisfy its obligations to us or to renew its leases with us upon expiration of the terms thereof. We cannot assure you that either Brookdale Senior Living or Kindred will have sufficient assets, income and access to financing to enable it to satisfy its respective obligations to us, and any inability or unwillingness by Brookdale Senior Living or Kindred to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity, our ability to service our indebtedness and other obligations and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders, as required for us to continue to qualify as a REIT (a “Material Adverse Effect”). We also cannot assure you that either Brookdale Senior Living or Kindred will elect to renew its respective leases with us upon expiration of their terms or that we will be able to reposition any properties that are not renewed on a timely basis or on the same or better economic terms, if at all.
	In September 2013, we entered into agreements with Kindred to extend the leases with respect to 48 of the 108 licensed healthcare assets whose current lease term was scheduled to expire on April 30, 2015. The 48 re-leased properties (the “Re-leased Assets”) consist of 26 skilled nursing facilities and 22 long-term acute care hospitals and collectively represent approximately $78 million of current annual base rent. Under the terms of our agreements with Kindred, annual base rent on the Re-leased Assets will increase initially by $15 million over their then current escalated rent, effective October 1, 2014. On October 1, 2013, Kindred also paid us $20 million, which will be amortized over the new lease terms.
	Senior Living Operations
	As of September 30, 2013, Atria and Sunrise, collectively, provided comprehensive property management and accounting services with respect to 235 of our seniors housing communities, for which we pay annual management fees pursuant to long-term management agreements.
	As managers, Atria and Sunrise do not lease our properties, and, therefore, we are not directly exposed to their credit risk in the same manner or to the same extent as our triple-net tenants. However, we rely on our managers’ personnel, expertise, technical resources and information systems, proprietary information, good faith and judgment to manage our seniors housing communities efficiently and effectively. We also rely on our managers to set resident fees and otherwise operate those properties in compliance with the terms of our management agreements. Although we have various rights as the property owner under our management agreements, including various rights to terminate and exercise remedies under the agreements as provided therein, Atria’s or Sunrise’s inability or unwillingness to satisfy its obligations under those agreements, to efficiently and effectively manage our properties or to provide timely and accurate accounting information with respect thereto could have a Material Adverse Effect on us. In addition, significant changes in Atria’s or Sunrise’s senior management or any adverse developments in their businesses and affairs or financial condition could have a Material Adverse Effect on us.
	Our 34% ownership interest in Atria entitles us to certain rights and minority protections regarding material transactions affecting Atria, as well as the right to appoint two directors to the Atria Board of Directors.
	Brookdale Senior Living, Kindred, Atria and Sunrise Information
	Each of Brookdale Senior Living and Kindred is subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC and is required to file with the SEC annual reports containing audited financial information and quarterly reports containing unaudited financial information. The information related to Brookdale Senior Living and Kindred contained or referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q has been derived from SEC filings made by Brookdale Senior Living or Kindred, as the case may be, or other publicly available information, or was provided to us by Brookdale Senior Living or Kindred, and we have not verified this information through an independent investigation or otherwise. We have no reason to believe that this information is inaccurate in any material respect, but we cannot provide any assurance of its accuracy. We are providing this data for informational purposes only, and you are encouraged to obtain Brookdale Senior Living’s and Kindred’s publicly available filings, which can be found on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
	Neither Atria nor Sunrise is currently subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC. The information related to Atria and Sunrise contained or referred to within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q has been derived from publicly available information or was provided to us by Atria or Sunrise, as the case may be, and we have not verified this information through an independent investigation or otherwise. We have no reason to believe that this information is inaccurate in any material respect, but we cannot provide any assurance of its accuracy.

ACQUISITIONS_OF_REAL_ESTATE_PR

ACQUISITIONS OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	ACQUISITIONS OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY
	The following summarizes our acquisitions in 2013 and 2012. We make acquisitions and investments in seniors housing and healthcare properties primarily to achieve an expected yield on investment, to grow and diversify our portfolio and revenue base, and to reduce our dependence on any single tenant, operator or manager, geographic area, asset type, business model or revenue source.
	2013 Acquisitions
	Triple-Net Leased Properties
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we acquired 27 seniors housing communities (including one property acquired through a joint venture) for approximately $860 million.
	Senior Living Operations
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we acquired 22 seniors housing communities for approximately $700 million. We were previously the tenant under a capital lease with respect to eight of the acquired properties (see “Note 10—Senior Notes Payable and Other Debt”), and all of the acquired properties were transitioned to Atria at the time of closing.
	MOB Operations
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we acquired ten MOBs (including two MOBs previously owned through a joint venture that we account for as an equity method investment) for approximately $150 million.
	Completed Developments
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we completed the development of two seniors housing communities, one MOB, and one hospital. These completed developments represent $65.2 million of net real estate property on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2013.
	Estimated Fair Value
	We are accounting for our 2013 acquisitions under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), and have completed our initial accounting, subject to further adjustment. We accounted for the acquisition of the eight seniors housing communities that we previously leased pursuant to a capital lease in accordance with ASC Topic 840, Leases. The following table summarizes the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which we determined using level two and level three inputs:
		Triple-Net Leased Properties		Senior Living Operations (1)		MOB Operations		Total
		(In thousands)
	Land and improvements	$	51,419	$	43,405	$	3,923	$	98,747
	Buildings and improvements	803,227		507,534		134,474		1,445,235
	Acquired lease intangibles	8,945		14,700		10,362		34,007
	Other assets	3,285		2,497		2,453		8,235
	Total assets acquired	866,876		568,136		151,212		1,586,224
	Notes payable and other debt	36,300		5,136		—		41,436
	Other liabilities	11,423		9,668		6,510		27,601
	Total liabilities assumed	47,723		14,804		6,510		69,037
	Noncontrolling interest assumed	10,113		—		1,672		11,785
	Net assets acquired	809,040		553,332		143,030		1,505,402
	Cash acquired	753		—		1,397		2,150
	Total cash used	$	808,287	$	553,332	$	141,633	$	1,503,252
	(1) Includes settlement of a $142.4 million capital lease obligation for eight seniors housing communities.
	Transaction Costs
	As of September 30, 2013, we had incurred a total of $11.3 million of acquisition-related costs related to our 2013 acquisitions, all of which were expensed as incurred and included in merger-related expenses and deal costs in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the applicable periods. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we expensed $10.4 million of acquisition-related costs related to our 2013 acquisitions.
	2012 Acquisitions
	Funds Acquisition
	In December 2012, we acquired 100% of certain private equity funds (the “Funds”) previously managed by Lazard Frères Real Estate Investments LLC or its affiliates. The acquired Funds primarily own a 34% interest in Atria, which is recorded as an investment in unconsolidated entities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, and approximately 3.7 million shares of our common stock. In conjunction with this acquisition, we also extinguished our obligation related to the “earnout,” a contingent performance-based payment arising out of our 2011 acquisition of the real estate assets of Atria Senior Living Group, Inc. (together with its affiliates, “ASLG”), for an additional $44 million. This amount represented the discounted net present value of the potential future payment, which was previously reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as a liability.
	Cogdell Acquisition
	In April 2012, we acquired Cogdell Spencer Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Cogdell”), including its 71 real estate assets (including properties owned through joint ventures) and its MOB property management business, which had existing agreements with third parties to manage 44 MOBs, in an all-cash transaction. At closing, our investment in Cogdell, including our share of debt, was approximately $760 million. In addition, our joint venture partners' share of net debt assumed was $36.3 million at the time of the acquisition.
	Pursuant to the terms of, and subject to the conditions set forth in, the agreement and plan of merger, at the effective time of the merger, (a) each outstanding share of Cogdell common stock, and each outstanding unit of limited partnership interest in Cogdell's operating partnership, Cogdell Spencer LP, that was not owned by subsidiaries of Cogdell was converted into the right to receive $4.25 in cash, and (b) each outstanding share of Cogdell's 8.500% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock was converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $25.00, plus accrued and unpaid dividends through the date of closing. We financed our acquisition of Cogdell through the assumption of $203.8 million of existing Cogdell mortgage debt (including $36.3 million of our joint venture partners' share) and borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility. Prior to the closing, Cogdell completed the sale of its design-build and development business to an unaffiliated third party.
	As of December 31, 2012, we had incurred a total of $28.6 million of acquisition-related costs related to the Cogdell acquisition, all of which were expensed as incurred and included in merger-related expenses and deal costs in our Consolidated Statements of Income for the applicable periods.
	Completed Developments
	During 2012, we completed the development of three MOBs and two seniors housing communities. These completed developments represent $116.9 million of net real estate property on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2012.
	Other 2012 Acquisitions
	In May 2012, we acquired 16 seniors housing communities managed by Sunrise in an all-cash transaction. Sunrise continues to manage the acquired assets under existing long-term management agreements. During 2012, we also invested in 21 seniors housing communities, two skilled nursing facilities and 44 MOBs, including 36 MOBs that we had previously accounted for as investments in unconsolidated entities.
	Fair Value
	We accounted for our 2012 acquisitions under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC 805. The following table summarizes the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which we determined using level two and level three inputs:
		Triple-Net Leased Properties		Senior Living Operations		MOB Operations (1)		Total
		(In thousands)
	Land and improvements	$	21,881	$	60,662	$	112,504	$	195,047
	Buildings and improvements	225,950		413,750		1,085,148		1,724,848
	Construction in progress	—		—		25,579		25,579
	Acquired lease intangibles	2,323		18,070		182,406		202,799
	Other assets	1,519		832		43,747		46,098
	Total assets acquired	251,673		493,314		1,449,384		2,194,371
	Notes payable and other debt	57,219		—		355,606		412,825
	Other liabilities	13,851		11,806		106,367		132,024
	Total liabilities assumed	71,070		11,806		461,973		544,849
	Noncontrolling interest assumed	7,292		—		30,361		37,653
	Net assets acquired	173,311		481,508		957,050		1,611,869
	Cash acquired	1,250		—		24,115		25,365
	Total cash used	$	172,061	$	481,508	$	932,935	$	1,586,504
	(1) Includes the Cogdell acquisition.

DISPOSITIONS

DISPOSITIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS	DISPOSITIONS
	2013 Activity
	Triple-Net Leased Properties
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we sold six seniors housing communities and ten skilled nursing facilities for aggregate consideration of $25.3 million, including lease termination fees of $0.3 million, and recognized a net gain on the sales of these assets of $2.0 million.
	Senior Living Operations
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we sold one seniors housing community for consideration of $1.6 million and recognized no gain or loss from the sale of this asset.
	MOB Operations
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we sold two MOBs for aggregate consideration of $1.8 million and recognized a net gain on the sales of these assets of $0.5 million.
	2012 Activity
	Triple-Net Leased Properties
	During 2012, we sold 36 seniors housing communities (including ten properties pursuant to the exercise of tenant purchase options) and two skilled nursing facilities for aggregate consideration of $318.9 million, including fees of $5.0 million, and recognized a net gain on the sales of these assets of $81.0 million. We deposited a majority of the proceeds from the sale of 21 seniors housing communities in an Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Section 1031 exchange escrow account with a qualified intermediary, and we used approximately $134.5 million of these proceeds for certain of our seniors housing communities and MOB acquisitions during 2012. As of December 31, 2012, no proceeds remained in the Section 1031 exchange escrow account related to these sales.
	Senior Living Operations
	In June 2012, we declined to exercise our renewal option with respect to the operating leases (under which we were the lessee) for two seniors housing communities, which leases expired on June 30, 2012.
	MOB Operations
	During 2012, we sold five MOBs for aggregate consideration of $27.2 million and recognized a gain on the sales of these assets of $4.5 million.
	Discontinued Operations
	We present separately, as discontinued operations in all periods presented, the results of operations for all assets classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2013, and all assets disposed of and all operating leases (under which we were the lessee) not renewed during the period from January 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013. Set forth below is a summary of our results of operations for properties within discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. As of September 30, 2013, we classified 17 properties as assets held for sale, included within other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, we recognized impairments of $34.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively, representing our estimated aggregate loss on the expected sales of assets reported as discontinued operations. These charges are primarily recorded as a component of depreciation and amortization in the table below.
		For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	2,535		$	6,550		$	8,177		$	26,141
	Resident fees and services	—			571			759			5,837
	Interest and other income	—			1,127			—			5,951
		2,535			8,248			8,936			37,929
	Expenses:
	Interest	910			2,473			3,402			10,397
	Depreciation and amortization	10,682			8,082			41,145			28,235
	Property-level operating expenses	80			1,206			964			6,314
	General, administrative and professional fees	—			10			—			302
	Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	—			—			(153		)	—
	Other	(7		)	542			(502		)	1,772
		11,665			12,313			44,856			47,020
	Loss before income taxes and gain on real estate dispositions, net	(9,130		)	(4,065		)	(35,920		)	(9,091		)
	Income tax (expense) benefit	—			(16		)	—			4
	Gain on real estate dispositions, net	46			357			2,241			79,148
	Discontinued operations	$	(9,084	)	$	(3,724	)	$	(33,679	)	$	70,061

LOANS_RECEIVABLE

LOANS RECEIVABLE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]
LOANS RECEIVABLE	LOANS RECEIVABLE AND INVESTMENTS
	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had $439.1 million and $697.1 million, respectively, of net loans receivable and investments relating to seniors housing and healthcare operators or properties.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we received aggregate proceeds of $78.6 million in final repayment of six secured loans receivable and one unsecured loan receivable and recognized a gain of $3.6 million.
	In May 2013, we acquired an interest in a government-sponsored pooled loan investment that matures in 2023 for $21.0 million. The investment is a marketable debt security classified as available-for-sale and included within secured loans receivable and investments, net on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 30, 2013, the investment had an amortized cost basis and fair value of $21.4 million and $21.2 million, respectively.
	In December 2012, we made a secured loan in the aggregate principal amount of $375.0 million, bearing interest at a fixed rate of 8.0% per annum and maturing in 2017, and in March 2013, we sold a pari passu portion of the loan receivable to a third party, at par. In July 2013, we sold a senior secured portion of our interest in the loan, which will accrue interest at a fixed rate of 4.5% per annum, to an institutional holder, at par, for $66.4 million. After these transactions, our remaining interest in the loan totals $183 million principal amount and bears interest at a fixed rate of 9.4% per annum.
	Also in December 2012, we made a secured loan in the aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million, bearing interest at a fixed rate of 12.0% per annum and maturing in 2017, and in May 2013, we sold a $25.0 million pari passu portion of the loan receivable to a third party, at par.
	Under the terms of each secured loan agreement described above, we act as the administrative agent for the loan and will continue to receive the stated interest rate on our remaining loan receivable balance. No gain or loss was recognized from the sales of a portion of our interests in the loans receivable.

INVESTMENTS_IN_UNCONSOLIDATED_

INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES	INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES
	We report investments in unconsolidated entities over whose operating and financial policies we have the ability to exercise significant influence under the equity method of accounting. We are not required to consolidate these entities because our joint venture partners have significant participating rights, nor are these entities considered VIEs, as they are controlled by equity holders with sufficient capital. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we owned interests (ranging from 5% to 25%) in joint ventures that own 53 properties and 55 properties, respectively. Our interests in these joint ventures, as well as our 34% interest in Atria, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
	With the exception of our interest in Atria, we serve as the managing member of each unconsolidated entity and provide various services in exchange for fees and reimbursements. Total management fees earned in connection with these entities were $1.5 million and $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $4.1 million and $5.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	In March 2013, we acquired two MOBs for aggregate consideration of approximately $55.2 million from a joint venture entity in which we have a 5% interest and account for as an equity method investment. In connection with this acquisition, we re-measured our previously held equity interest (associated with the acquired MOBs) and recognized a gain of $1.3 million, which is included in income from unconsolidated entities in our Consolidated Statements of Income. Operations relating to the acquired MOBs are now consolidated in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

INTANGIBLES

INTANGIBLES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
INTANGIBLES
INTANGIBLES	INTANGIBLES
	The following is a summary of our intangibles as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		30-Sep-13				31-Dec-12
		Balance			Remaining	Balance			Remaining
					Weighted Average				Weighted Average
					Amortization				Amortization
					Period in Years				Period in Years
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Intangible assets:
	Above market lease intangibles	$	215,490		8.4	$	215,367		9.5
	In-place and other lease intangibles	796,673			23.7	766,337			23.3
	Goodwill and other intangibles	489,787			8.6	523,830			8.6
	Accumulated amortization	(434,876		)	N/A	(352,692		)	N/A
	Net intangible assets	$	1,067,074		19.5	$	1,152,842		19.3
	Intangible liabilities:
	Below market lease intangibles	$	429,309		14.7	$	429,907		15.3
	Other lease intangibles	30,587			24	28,966			15.8
	Accumulated amortization	(108,706		)	N/A	(78,560		)	N/A
	Purchase option intangibles	29,294			N/A	36,048			N/A
	Net intangible liabilities	$	380,484		15	$	416,361		15.3
	N/A—Not Applicable.
	Above market lease intangibles and in-place and other lease intangibles are included in acquired lease intangibles within real estate investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Goodwill and other intangibles (including non-compete agreements and trade names/trademarks) are included in other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Below market lease intangibles, other lease intangibles and purchase option intangibles are included in accounts payable and other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

OTHER_ASSETS

OTHER ASSETS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
OTHER ASSETS	OTHER ASSETS
	The following is a summary of our other assets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(In thousands)
	Straight-line rent receivables, net	$	141,488	$	120,325
	Unsecured loans receivable, net	38,238		62,118
	Goodwill and other intangibles, net	477,983		515,429
	Assets held for sale	135,098		111,556
	Other	211,074		112,257
	Total other assets	$	1,003,881	$	921,685

SENIOR_NOTES_PAYABLE_AND_OTHER

SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT	SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT
	The following is a summary of our senior notes payable and other debt as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Unsecured revolving credit facility	$	447,970		$	540,727
	6.25% Senior Notes due 2013	—			269,850
	Unsecured term loan due 2015 (1)	125,739			130,336
	3.125% Senior Notes due 2015	400,000			400,000
	6% Senior Notes due 2015	234,420			234,420
	1.55% Senior Notes due 2016	550,000			—
	Unsecured term loan due 2017 (1)	375,000			375,000
	Unsecured term loan due 2018	180,000			180,000
	2.00% Senior Notes due 2018	700,000			700,000
	4.00% Senior Notes due 2019	600,000			600,000
	2.700% Senior Notes due 2020	500,000			—
	4.750% Senior Notes due 2021	700,000			700,000
	4.25% Senior Notes due 2022	600,000			600,000
	3.25% Senior Notes due 2022	500,000			500,000
	6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	52,400			52,400
	6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	22,973			22,973
	5.45% Senior Notes due 2043	258,750			—
	5.70% Senior Notes due 2043	300,000			—
	Mortgage loans and other (2)	2,811,766			2,880,609
	Total	9,359,018			8,186,315
	Capital lease obligations	—			142,412
	Unamortized fair value adjustment	80,320			111,623
	Unamortized discounts	(26,020		)	(26,704		)
	Senior notes payable and other debt	$	9,413,318		$	8,413,646
	-1	These amounts represent in aggregate the approximate $500.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our unsecured term loan facility. Certain amounts included in the 2015 tranche are in the form of Canadian dollar borrowings.
	-2	In October 2013, we repaid in full approximately $40.9 million of the mortgage loans outstanding as of September 30, 2013.
	As of September 30, 2013, our indebtedness had the following maturities:
		Principal Amount			Unsecured			Scheduled Periodic		Total Maturities (1)
		Due at Maturity			Revolving Credit			Amortization
					Facility (1)
		(In thousands)
	2013 (2)	$	77,497		$	—		$	13,316	$	90,813
	2014	273,050			—			49,893		322,943
	2015	1,057,536			447,970			41,008		1,546,514
	2016	960,917			—			34,000		994,917
	2017	927,243			—			22,094		949,337
	Thereafter (3)	5,292,084			—			162,410		5,454,494
	Total maturities	$	8,588,327		$	447,970		$	322,721	$	9,359,018
	-1	As of September 30, 2013, we had $54.7 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, for $393.3 million of net borrowings outstanding under our unsecured revolving credit facility. Borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility mature on October 16, 2015, but may be extended for an additional period of one year at our option, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
	-2	In October 2013, we repaid in full approximately $40.9 million of the mortgage loans outstanding as of September 30, 2013.
	-3	Includes $52.4 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.90% senior notes due 2037 that is subject to repurchase, at the option of the holders, on October 1 in each of the years 2017 and 2027, and $23.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.59% senior notes due 2038 that is subject to repurchase, at the option of the holders, on July 7 in each of the years 2018, 2023 and 2028.
	Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loans
	We have $2.0 billion of aggregate borrowing capacity under our unsecured revolving credit facility, which may be increased to up to $2.5 billion at our option, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, and includes sublimits of (a) up to $200 million for letters of credit, (b) up to $200 million for swingline loans, (c) up to $250 million for loans in certain alternative currencies, and (d) up to 50% of the facility for certain negotiated rate loans. Borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum (based on the applicable LIBOR for Eurocurrency rate loans and the higher of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (ii) the administrative agent’s prime rate and (iii) the applicable LIBOR plus 1.0% for base rate loans, plus, in each case, a spread based on our senior unsecured long-term debt ratings). We also pay a facility fee ranging from 15 basis points to 45 basis points per annum (based on our senior unsecured long-term debt ratings) on the aggregate revolving commitments under our unsecured revolving credit facility. At September 30, 2013, the applicable spread was 110 basis points for Eurocurrency rate loans and 10 basis points for base rate loans and the facility fee was 17.5 basis points. Borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility mature on October 16, 2015, but may be extended for an additional period of one year at our option, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
	As of September 30, 2013, we had $448.0 million of borrowings outstanding, $14.9 million of letters of credit outstanding and $1.54 billion of unused borrowing capacity available under our unsecured revolving credit facility.
	Senior Notes
	In February 2013, we repaid in full, at par, $269.9 million principal amount then outstanding of our 6.25% senior notes due 2013 upon maturity.
	In March 2013, we issued and sold: $258.8 million aggregate principal amount of 5.45% senior notes due 2043, at a public offering price equal to par, for total proceeds of $258.8 million before any underwriting discounts and expenses; and $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.700% senior notes due 2020, at a public offering price equal to 99.942% of par, for total proceeds of $499.7 million before any underwriting discounts and expenses.
	In September 2013, we issued and sold: $550.0 million aggregate principal amount of 1.55% senior notes due 2016, at a public offering price equal to 99.910% of par, for total proceeds of $549.5 million before any underwriting discounts and expenses; and $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.70% senior notes due 2043, at a public offering price equal to 99.628% of par, for total proceeds of $298.9 million before any underwriting discounts and expenses.
	Capital Leases
	As of December 31, 2012, we leased eight seniors housing communities pursuant to arrangements that were accounted for as capital leases. In January 2013, we acquired these facilities for aggregate consideration of $145.0 million, thereby eliminating our capital lease obligation.

FAIR_VALUES_OF_FINANCIAL_INSTR

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the carrying amounts and fair values of our financial instruments were as follows:
		30-Sep-13				31-Dec-12
		Carrying		Fair Value		Carrying		Fair Value
		Amount				Amount
		(In thousands)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,672	$	54,672	$	67,908	$	67,908
	Secured loans receivable, net	379,727		388,780		635,002		636,714
	Unsecured loans receivable, net	38,238		40,762		62,118		65,146
	Marketable debt securities	21,162		21,162		5,400		5,400
	Liabilities:
	Senior notes payable and other debt, gross	9,359,018		9,471,240		8,186,315		8,600,450
	Derivative instruments and other liabilities	16,360		16,360		45,966		45,966
	Redeemable OP unitholder interests	111,697		111,697		114,933		114,933
	Fair value estimates are subjective in nature and based upon several important assumptions, including estimates of future cash flows, risks, discount rates and relevant comparable market information associated with each financial instrument. The use of different market assumptions and estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the reported estimated fair value amounts. Accordingly, the estimates presented above are not necessarily indicative of the amounts we would realize in a current market exchange.

LITIGATION

LITIGATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Litigation [Abstract]
LITIGATION	LITIGATION
	Proceedings against Tenants, Operators and Managers
	From time to time, Brookdale Senior Living, Kindred, Atria, Sunrise and our other tenants, operators and managers are parties to certain legal actions, regulatory investigations and claims arising in the conduct of their business and operations. Even though we generally are not party to these proceedings, the unfavorable resolution of any such actions, investigations or claims could, individually or in the aggregate, materially adversely affect such tenants’, operators’ or managers’ liquidity, financial condition or results of operations and their ability to satisfy their respective obligations to us, which, in turn, could have a Material Adverse Effect on us.
	Proceedings Indemnified and Defended by Third Parties
	From time to time, we are party to certain legal actions, regulatory investigations and claims for which third parties are contractually obligated to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless. The tenants of our triple-net leased properties and, in some cases, their affiliates are required by the terms of their leases and other agreements with us to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless against certain actions, investigations and claims arising in the course of their business and related to the operations of our triple-net leased properties. In addition, third parties from whom we acquired certain of our assets and, in some cases, their affiliates are required by the terms of the related conveyance documents to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless against certain actions, investigations and claims related to the acquired assets and arising prior to our ownership or related to excluded assets and liabilities. In some cases, a portion of the purchase price consideration is held in escrow for a specified period of time as collateral for these indemnification obligations. We are presently being defended by certain tenants and other obligated third parties in these types of matters. We cannot assure you that our tenants, their affiliates or other obligated third parties will continue to defend us in these matters, that our tenants, their affiliates or other obligated third parties will have sufficient assets, income and access to financing to enable them to satisfy their defense and indemnification obligations to us or that any purchase price consideration held in escrow will be sufficient to satisfy claims for which we are entitled to indemnification. The unfavorable resolution of any such actions, investigations or claims could, individually or in the aggregate, materially adversely affect our tenants’ or other obligated third parties’ liquidity, financial condition or results of operations and their ability to satisfy their respective obligations to us, which, in turn, could have a Material Adverse Effect on us.
	Proceedings Arising in Connection with Senior Living and MOB Operations; Other Litigation
	From time to time, we are party to various legal actions, regulatory investigations and claims (some of which may not be insured and some of which may allege large damage amounts) arising in connection with our senior living and MOB operations or otherwise in the course of our business. In limited circumstances, the manager of the applicable seniors housing community or MOB may be contractually obligated to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless against such actions, investigations and claims. It is the opinion of management that, except as otherwise set forth in this Note 12, the disposition of any such actions, investigations and claims that are currently pending will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on us. However, regardless of their merits, these matters may force us to expend significant financial resources to defend and resolve. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these actions, investigations and claims, and if management’s assessment of our liability with respect thereto is incorrect, such actions, investigations and claims could have a Material Adverse Effect on us.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES
	We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the applicable provisions of the Code for every year beginning with the year ended December 31, 1999. We have also elected for certain of our subsidiaries to be treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS” or “TRS entities”), which are subject to federal and state income taxes. All entities other than the TRS entities are collectively referred to as “the REIT” within this Note 13.
	Although the TRS entities have paid minimal cash federal income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, their federal income tax liabilities may increase in future periods as we exhaust net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards and as our senior living operations reportable business segment grows. Such increases could be significant.
	Our consolidated provision for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was a benefit of $2.8 million and $8.9 million, respectively. Our consolidated provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was a benefit of $13.1 million and $2.7 million, respectively. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is due primarily to the release of valuation allowances against certain deferred tax assets of one of our TRS entities. During the period, we determined, based on continued positive operating results, that more likely than not the deferred tax assets would be utilized in their entirety in future periods. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was due primarily to the income tax benefit of ordinary losses related to our TRS entities, net of a valuation allowance recorded against certain deferred tax assets of one of our other TRS entities, as we determined that the corresponding assets did not meet the more likely than not criteria regarding utilization.
	Realization of a deferred tax benefit related to NOLs depends in part upon generating sufficient taxable income in future periods. Our NOL carryforwards begin to expire in 2024 with respect to our TRS entities and in 2016 for the REIT.
	Each TRS is a tax paying component for purposes of classifying deferred tax assets and liabilities. Net deferred tax liabilities with respect to our TRS entities totaled $248.5 million and $257.0 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, and related primarily to differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of fixed and intangible assets and to NOLs.
	Generally, we are subject to audit under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service for the year ended December 31, 2010 and subsequent years and are subject to audit by state taxing authorities for the year ended December 31, 2009 and subsequent years. We are also subject to audit by the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial authorities generally for periods subsequent to 2007 related to entities acquired or formed in connection with our 2007 acquisition of Sunrise Senior Living Real Estate Investment Trust.

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	In March 2013, we established an “at-the-market” (“ATM”) equity offering program through which we may sell from time to time up to an aggregate of $750 million of our common stock. Through September 30, 2013, we issued and sold a total of 1,503,505 shares of common stock under the program for aggregate net proceeds of $106.1 million ($23.7 million of which occurred in the third quarter of 2013), after sales agent commissions of $1.6 million. As of September 30, 2013, approximately $642.3 million of our common stock remained available for sale under our ATM equity offering program.
	Subsequent to September 30, 2013, we have issued and sold a total of 450,410 shares of common stock under the program for aggregate net proceeds of $27.9 million, after sales agent commissions of $0.4 million.
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	The following is a summary of our accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(In thousands)
	Foreign currency translation	$	20,293		$	23,441
	Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable debt securities	(208		)	807
	Other	1,208			(894		)
	Total accumulated other comprehensive income	$	21,293		$	23,354

EARNINGS_PER_COMMON_SHARE

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
	The following table shows the amounts used in computing our basic and diluted earnings per common share:
		For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(In thousands, except per share amounts)
	Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$	127,380		$	115,606		$	378,748		$	206,472
	Discontinued operations	(9,084		)	(3,724		)	(33,679		)	70,061
	Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	118,296		$	111,882		$	345,069		$	276,533
	Denominator:
	Denominator for basic earnings per share—weighted average shares	292,818			294,928			292,308			291,177
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options	483			522			578			509
	Restricted stock awards	75			121			114			86
	OP units	1,814			1,836			1,788			1,850
	Denominator for diluted earnings per share—adjusted weighted average shares	295,190			297,407			294,788			293,622
	Basic earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$	0.43		$	0.39		$	1.3		$	0.71
	Discontinued operations	(0.03		)	(0.01		)	(0.12		)	0.24
	Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	0.4		$	0.38		$	1.18		$	0.95
	Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$	0.43		$	0.39		$	1.28		$	0.7
	Discontinued operations	(0.03		)	(0.01		)	(0.11		)	0.24
	Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	0.4		$	0.38		$	1.17		$	0.94

SEGMENT_INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
SEGMENT INFORMATION	SEGMENT INFORMATION
	As of September 30, 2013, we operated through three reportable business segments: triple-net leased properties, senior living operations and MOB operations. Under our triple-net leased properties segment, we acquire and own seniors housing and healthcare properties throughout the United States and lease those properties to healthcare operating companies under “triple-net” or “absolute-net” leases that obligate the tenants to pay all property-related expenses. Under our senior living operations segment, we invest in seniors housing communities throughout the United States and Canada and engage independent operators, such as Atria and Sunrise, to manage those communities. Under our MOB operations segment, we primarily acquire, own, develop, lease and manage MOBs. Information provided for “all other” includes income from loans and investments and other miscellaneous income and various corporate-level expenses not directly attributable to our three reportable business segments. Assets included in “all other” consist primarily of corporate assets, including cash, restricted cash, deferred financing costs, loans receivable and investments, and miscellaneous accounts receivable.
	We evaluate performance of the combined properties in each reportable business segment based on segment profit, which we define as NOI adjusted for income/loss from unconsolidated entities. We define NOI as total revenues, less interest and other income, property-level operating expenses and medical office building services costs. Although we believe that net income, as defined by GAAP, is the most appropriate earnings measurement, we consider segment profit a useful supplement to net income because it allows investors, analysts and our management to measure unlevered property-level operating results and to compare our operating results to the operating results of other real estate companies and between periods on a consistent basis. Segment profit should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indicator of our financial performance. In order to facilitate a clear understanding of our historical consolidated operating results, segment profit should be examined in conjunction with net income as presented in our Consolidated Financial Statements and other financial data included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
	Interest expense, depreciation and amortization, general, administrative and professional fees, income tax expense, discontinued operations and other non-property specific revenues and expenses are not allocated to individual reportable business segments for purposes of assessing segment performance. There are no intersegment sales or transfers.
	Summary information by reportable business segment is as follows:
	For the three months ended September 30, 2013:
		Triple-Net		Senior			MOB		All			Total
		Leased		Living			Operations		Other
		Properties		Operations
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	219,170	$	—		$	115,444	$	—		$	334,614
	Resident fees and services	—		359,112			—		—			359,112
	Medical office building and other services revenue	1,116		—			2,530		500			4,146
	Income from loans and investments	—		—			—		14,448			14,448
	Interest and other income	—		—			—		66			66
	Total revenues	$	220,286	$	359,112		$	117,974	$	15,014		$	712,386
	Total revenues	$	220,286	$	359,112		$	117,974	$	15,014		$	712,386
	Less:
	Interest and other income	—		—			—		66			66
	Property-level operating expenses	—		244,316			40,796		—			285,112
	Medical office building services costs	—		—			1,651		—			1,651
	Segment NOI	220,286		114,796			75,527		14,948			425,557
	Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	203		(32		)	71		(132		)	110
	Segment profit	$	220,489	$	114,764		$	75,598	$	14,816		425,667
	Interest and other income											66
	Interest expense											(84,089		)
	Depreciation and amortization											(177,710		)
	General, administrative and professional fees											(28,659		)
	Gain on extinguishment of debt											189
	Merger-related expenses and deal costs											(6,208		)
	Other											(4,353		)
	Income tax benefit											2,780
	Discontinued operations											(9,084		)
	Net income											$	118,599
	For the three months ended September 30, 2012:
		Triple-Net		Senior			MOB		All			Total
		Leased		Living			Operations		Other
		Properties		Operations
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	207,372	$	—		$	100,814	$	—		$	308,186
	Resident fees and services	—		316,560			—		—			316,560
	Medical office building and other services revenue	1,110		—			3,434		—			4,544
	Income from loans and investments	—		—			—		9,035			9,035
	Interest and other income	—		—			—		330			330
	Total revenues	$	208,482	$	316,560		$	104,248	$	9,365		$	638,655
	Total revenues	$	208,482	$	316,560		$	104,248	$	9,365		$	638,655
	Less:
	Interest and other income	—		—			—		330			330
	Property-level operating expenses	—		216,306			36,144		—			252,450
	Medical office building services costs	—		—			1,487		—			1,487
	Segment NOI	208,482		100,254			66,617		9,035			384,388
	Income from unconsolidated entities	348		—			16,726		—			17,074
	Segment profit	$	208,830	$	100,254		$	83,343	$	9,035		401,462
	Interest and other income											330
	Interest expense											(74,037		)
	Depreciation and amortization											(188,540		)
	General, administrative and professional fees											(26,867		)
	Gain on extinguishment of debt											1,194
	Merger-related expenses and deal costs											(4,917		)
	Other											(1,966		)
	Income tax benefit											8,886
	Discontinued operations											(3,724		)
Net income											$	111,821
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013:
	Triple-Net		Senior			MOB		All			Total
	Leased		Living			Operations		Other
	Properties		Operations
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	645,719	$	—		$	337,536	$	—		$	983,255
Resident fees and services	—		1,039,876			—		—			1,039,876
Medical office building and other services revenue	3,342		—			7,226		763			11,331
Income from loans and investments	—		—			—		45,284			45,284
Interest and other income	—		—			—		1,901			1,901
Total revenues	$	649,061	$	1,039,876		$	344,762	$	47,948		$	2,081,647
Total revenues	$	649,061	$	1,039,876		$	344,762	$	47,948		$	2,081,647
Less:
Interest and other income	—		—			—		1,901			1,901
Property-level operating expenses	—		706,561			115,738		—			822,299
Medical office building services costs	—		—			4,957		—			4,957
Segment NOI	649,061		333,315			224,067		46,047			1,252,490
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	573		(1,173		)	1,456		(323		)	533
Segment profit	$	649,634	$	332,142		$	225,523	$	45,724		1,253,023
Interest and other income											1,901
Interest expense											(245,622		)
Depreciation and amortization											(528,180		)
General, administrative and professional fees											(84,760		)
Gain on extinguishment of debt											909
Merger-related expenses and deal costs											(17,137		)
Other											(13,325		)
Income tax benefit											13,100
Discontinued operations											(33,679		)
Net income											$	346,230
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012:
	Triple-Net		Senior			MOB		All			Total
	Leased		Living			Operations		Other
	Properties		Operations
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	613,939	$	—		$	253,889	$	—		$	867,828
Resident fees and services	—		905,190			—		—			905,190
Medical office building and other services revenue	3,329		—			13,462		—			16,791
Income from loans and investments	—		—			—		25,223			25,223
Interest and other income	—		—			—		442			442
Total revenues	$	617,268	$	905,190		$	267,351	$	25,665		$	1,815,474
Total revenues	$	617,268	$	905,190		$	267,351	$	25,665		$	1,815,474
Less:
Interest and other income	—		—			—		442			442
Property-level operating expenses	—		618,471			86,468		—			704,939
Medical office building services costs	—		—			8,314		—			8,314
Segment NOI	617,268		286,719			172,569		25,223			1,101,779
Income from unconsolidated entities	1,068		—			16,837		—			17,905
Segment profit	$	618,336	$	286,719		$	189,406	$	25,223		1,119,684
Interest and other income											442
Interest expense											(214,028		)
Depreciation and amortization											(534,792		)
General, administrative and professional fees											(75,488		)
Loss on extinguishment of debt											(38,339		)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs											(49,566		)
Other											(5,052		)
Income tax benefit											2,727
Discontinued operations											70,061
Net income											$	275,649
Capital expenditures, including investments in real estate property and development project expenditures, by reportable business segment are as follows:
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2013		2012			2013		2012
	(In thousands)
Capital expenditures:
Triple-net leased	$	793,594	$	25,535		$	838,598	$	39,415
Senior living	226,442		20,510			471,531		369,341
MOB	99,706		257,479			173,978		878,545
Total capital expenditures	$	1,119,742	$	303,524		$	1,484,107	$	1,287,301
The properties, loans receivable and other investments in our portfolio are located in the United States and Canada. Revenues are attributed to an individual country based on the location of each property.
Geographic information regarding our operations is as follows:
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2013		2012			2013		2012
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
United States	$	689,062	$	614,310		$	2,011,491	$	1,743,899
Canada	23,324		24,345			70,156		71,575
Total revenues	$	712,386	$	638,655		$	2,081,647	$	1,815,474
	As of September 30, 2013		As of December 31, 2012
	(In thousands)
Net real estate property:
United States	$	17,794,819	$	16,711,508
Canada	380,124		400,024
Total net real estate property	$	18,174,943	$	17,111,532

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_INFORM

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (Unaudited)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Information [Abstract]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (Unaudited)	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (Unaudited)
	We have fully and unconditionally guaranteed the obligation to pay principal and interest with respect to the outstanding senior notes issued jointly by our 100% owned subsidiaries, Ventas Realty, Limited Partnership (“Ventas Realty”) and Ventas Capital Corporation (collectively, the “Ventas Issuers”), and the outstanding senior notes issued solely by Ventas Realty. Ventas Capital Corporation is a direct subsidiary of Ventas Realty that has no assets or operations, but was formed in 2002 solely to facilitate offerings of senior notes by a limited partnership. None of our other subsidiaries (excluding the Ventas Issuers, the “Ventas Subsidiaries”) is obligated with respect to the Ventas Issuers’ or Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes.
	In connection with our acquisition of Nationwide Health Properties, Inc. (“NHP”), our 100% owned subsidiary, Nationwide Health Properties, LLC (“NHP LLC”), as successor to NHP, assumed the obligation to pay principal and interest with respect to the outstanding senior notes issued by NHP. We, the Ventas Issuers and the Ventas Subsidiaries (other than NHP LLC) are not obligated with respect to any of NHP LLC’s outstanding senior notes.
	Contractual and legal restrictions, including those contained in the instruments governing our subsidiaries’ outstanding mortgage indebtedness, may under certain circumstances restrict our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries for the purpose of meeting our debt service obligations, including our guarantee of the payment of principal and interest on the Ventas Issuers’ and Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes. Certain of our real estate assets are also subject to mortgages.
	The following summarizes our condensed consolidating information as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	As of September 30, 2013
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Assets
	Net real estate investments	$	7,161		$	387,869		$	18,272,333		$	—		$	18,667,363
	Cash and cash equivalents	14,018			—			40,654			—			54,672
	Escrow deposits and restricted cash	2,104			1,635			94,461			—			98,200
	Deferred financing costs, net	758			46,514			7,970			—			55,242
	Investment in and advances to affiliates	11,713,622			1,867,250			—			(13,580,872		)	—
	Other assets	49,187			7,000			947,694			—			1,003,881
	Total assets	$	11,786,850		$	2,310,268		$	19,363,112		$	(13,580,872	)	$	19,879,358
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Senior notes payable and other debt	$	—		$	6,089,730		$	3,323,588		$	—		$	9,413,318
	Intercompany loans	5,299,822			(5,742,316		)	442,494			—			—
	Accrued interest	—			39,457			22,719			—			62,176
	Accounts payable and other liabilities	106,537			11,038			901,591			—			1,019,166
	Deferred income taxes	248,369			—			—			—			248,369
	Total liabilities	5,654,728			397,909			4,690,392			—			10,743,029
	Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	—			—			171,921			—			171,921
	Total equity	6,132,122			1,912,359			14,500,799			(13,580,872		)	8,964,408
	Total liabilities and equity	$	11,786,850		$	2,310,268		$	19,363,112		$	(13,580,872	)	$	19,879,358
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	As of December 31, 2012
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Assets
	Net real estate investments	$	7,615		$	412,362		$	17,421,966		$	—		$	17,841,943
	Cash and cash equivalents	16,734			—			51,174			—			67,908
	Escrow deposits and restricted cash	7,565			1,952			96,396			—			105,913
	Deferred financing costs, net	757			34,047			7,747			—			42,551
	Investment in and advances to affiliates	10,343,664			1,867,250			—			(12,210,914		)	—
	Other assets	26,282			4,043			891,360			—			921,685
	Total assets	$	10,402,617		$	2,319,654		$	18,468,643		$	(12,210,914	)	$	18,980,000
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Senior notes payable and other debt	$	—		$	4,570,296		$	3,843,350		$	—		$	8,413,646
	Intercompany loans	3,425,082			(4,126,391		)	701,309			—			—
	Accrued interest	—			24,045			23,520			—			47,565
	Accounts payable and other liabilities	99,631			7,775			887,750			—			995,156
	Deferred income taxes	259,715			—			—			—			259,715
	Total liabilities	3,784,428			475,725			5,455,929			—			9,716,082
	Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	—			—			174,555			—			174,555
	Total equity	6,618,189			1,843,929			12,838,159			(12,210,914		)	9,089,363
	Total liabilities and equity	$	10,402,617		$	2,319,654		$	18,468,643		$	(12,210,914	)	$	18,980,000
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	609		$	69,894		$	264,111		$	—		$	334,614
	Resident fees and services	—			—			359,112			—			359,112
	Medical office building and other services revenue	—			—			4,146			—			4,146
Income from loans and investments	—			90			14,358			—			14,448
Equity earnings in affiliates	118,136			—			202			(118,338		)	—
Interest and other income	19			10			37			—			66
Total revenues	118,764			69,994			641,966			(118,338		)	712,386
Expenses:
Interest	(512		)	36,703			47,898			—			84,089
Depreciation and amortization	1,308			7,912			168,490			—			177,710
Property-level operating expenses	—			153			284,959			—			285,112
Medical office building services costs	—			—			1,651			—			1,651
General, administrative and professional fees	437			5,375			22,847			—			28,659
Gain on extinguishment of debt	—			—			(189		)	—			(189		)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	2,038			—			4,170			—			6,208
Other	23			17			4,313			—			4,353
Total expenses	3,294			50,160			534,139			—			587,593
Income from continuing operations before income/loss from unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interest	115,470			19,834			107,827			(118,338		)	124,793
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	—			272			(162		)	—			110
Income tax benefit	2,780			—			—			—			2,780
Income from continuing operations	118,250			20,106			107,665			(118,338		)	127,683
Discontinued operations	46			80			(9,210		)	—			(9,084		)
Net income	118,296			20,186			98,455			(118,338		)	118,599
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			303			—			303
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	118,296		$	20,186		$	98,152		$	(118,338	)	$	118,296
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	640		$	69,262		$	238,284		$	—		$	308,186
Resident fees and services	—			—			316,560			—			316,560
Medical office building and other services revenue	—			—			4,544			—			4,544
Income from loans and investments	951			301			7,783			—			9,035
Equity earnings in affiliates	115,319			—			318			(115,637		)	—
Interest and other income	12			10			308			—			330
Total revenues	116,922			69,573			567,797			(115,637		)	638,655
Expenses:
Interest	(1,139		)	23,295			51,881			—			74,037
Depreciation and amortization	1,057			7,484			179,999			—			188,540
Property-level operating expenses	—			128			252,322			—			252,450
Medical office building services costs	—			—			1,487			—			1,487
General, administrative and professional fees	1,028			8,092			17,747			—			26,867
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt	—			17			(1,211		)	—			(1,194		)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	12,552			—			(7,635		)	—			4,917
Other	(5		)	—			1,971			—			1,966
Total expenses	13,493			39,016			496,561			—			549,070
Income from continuing operations before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interest	103,429			30,557			71,236			(115,637		)	89,585
Income from unconsolidated entities	—			429			16,645			—			17,074
Income tax benefit	8,886			—			—			—			8,886
Income from continuing operations	112,315			30,986			87,881			(115,637		)	115,545
Discontinued operations	(433		)	857			(4,148		)	—			(3,724		)
Net income	111,882			31,843			83,733			(115,637		)	111,821
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(61		)	—			(61		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	111,882		$	31,843		$	83,794		$	(115,637	)	$	111,882
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	1,868		$	209,933		$	771,454		$	—		$	983,255
Resident fees and services	—			—			1,039,876			—			1,039,876
Medical office building and other services revenue	—			—			11,331			—			11,331
Income from loans and investments	1,262			877			43,145			—			45,284
Equity earnings in affiliates	339,339			—			675			(340,014		)	—
Interest and other income	315			21			1,565			—			1,901
Total revenues	342,784			210,831			1,868,046			(340,014		)	2,081,647
Expenses:
Interest	(1,453		)	105,180			141,895			—			245,622
Depreciation and amortization	3,600			23,068			501,512			—			528,180
Property-level operating expenses	—			396			821,903			—			822,299
Medical office building services costs	—			—			4,957			—			4,957
General, administrative and professional fees	1,580			16,161			67,019			—			84,760
Gain on extinguishment of debt	—			—			(909		)	—			(909		)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	9,013			—			8,124			—			17,137
Other	316			38			12,971			—			13,325
Total expenses	13,056			144,843			1,557,472			—			1,715,371
Income from continuing operations before income/loss from unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interest	329,728			65,988			310,574			(340,014		)	366,276
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	—			776			(243		)	—			533
Income tax benefit	13,100			—			—			—			13,100
Income from continuing operations	342,828			66,764			310,331			(340,014		)	379,909
Discontinued operations	2,241			702			(36,622		)	—			(33,679		)
Net income	345,069			67,466			273,709			(340,014		)	346,230
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			1,161			—			1,161
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	345,069		$	67,466		$	272,548		$	(340,014	)	$	345,069
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	1,898		$	205,601		$	660,329		$	—		$	867,828
Resident fees and services	—			—			905,190			—			905,190
Medical office building and other services revenue	—			—			16,791			—			16,791
Income from loans and investments	2,841			1,330			21,052			—			25,223
Equity earnings in affiliates	228,099			—			537			(228,636		)	—
Interest and other income	97			20			325			—			442
Total revenues	232,935			206,951			1,604,224			(228,636		)	1,815,474
Expenses:
Interest	(3,375		)	68,227			149,176			—			214,028
Depreciation and amortization	2,576			28,242			503,974			—			534,792
Property-level operating expenses	—			369			704,570			—			704,939
Medical office building services costs	—			—			8,314			—			8,314
General, administrative and professional fees	4,839			22,204			48,445			—			75,488
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt	—			39,737			(1,398		)	—			38,339
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	42,605			—			6,961			—			49,566
Other	(4		)	—			5,056			—			5,052
Total expenses	46,641			158,779			1,425,098			—			1,630,518
Income from continuing operations before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interest	186,294			48,172			179,126			(228,636		)	184,956
Income from unconsolidated entities	—			1,260			16,645			—			17,905
Income tax benefit	2,727			—			—			—			2,727
Income from continuing operations	189,021			49,432			195,771			(228,636		)	205,588
Discontinued operations	87,512			4,300			(21,751		)	—			70,061
Net income	276,533			53,732			174,020			(228,636		)	275,649
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(884		)	—			(884		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	276,533		$	53,732		$	174,904		$	(228,636	)	$	276,533
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	118,296		$	20,186		$	98,455		$	(118,338	)	$	118,599
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	—			—			1,665			—			1,665
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(208		)	—			—			—			(208		)
Other	—			—			84			—			84
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(208		)	—			1,749			—			1,541
Comprehensive income	118,088			20,186			100,204			(118,338		)	120,140
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			303			—			303
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	118,088		$	20,186		$	99,901		$	(118,338	)	$	119,837
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	111,882		$	31,843		$	83,733		$	(115,637	)	$	111,821
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	—			—			2,838			—			2,838
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(509		)	—			—			—			(509		)
Other	—			—			(107		)	—			(107		)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(509		)	—			2,731			—			2,222
Comprehensive income	111,373			31,843			86,464			(115,637		)	114,043
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(61		)	—			(61		)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	111,373		$	31,843		$	86,525		$	(115,637	)	$	114,104
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	345,069		$	67,466		$	273,709		$	(340,014	)	$	346,230
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	—			—			(3,148		)	—			(3,148		)
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(1,015		)	—			—			—			(1,015		)
Other	—			—			2,102			—			2,102
Total other comprehensive loss	(1,015		)	—			(1,046		)	—			(2,061		)
Comprehensive income	344,054			67,466			272,663			(340,014		)	344,169
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			1,161			—			1,161
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	344,054		$	67,466		$	271,502		$	(340,014	)	$	343,008
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	276,533		$	53,732		$	174,020		$	(228,636	)	$	275,649
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	—			—			3,180			—			3,180
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(1,220		)	—			—			—			(1,220		)
Other	—			—			(396		)	—			(396		)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,220		)	—			2,784			—			1,564
Comprehensive income	275,313			53,732			176,804			(228,636		)	277,213
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(884		)	—			(884		)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	275,313		$	53,732		$	177,688		$	(228,636	)	$	278,097
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$	(11,070	)	$	114,924		$	731,575		$	—		$	835,429
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,338,064		)	(3,492		)	163,455			—			(1,178,101		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility	—			(90,000		)	(2,586		)	—			(92,586		)
Proceeds from debt	—			1,606,849			159,995			—			1,766,844
Repayment of debt	(11,420		)	—			(829,112		)	—			(840,532		)
Net change in intercompany debt	1,874,740			(1,615,925		)	(258,815		)	—			—
Payment of deferred financing costs	—			(18,291		)	(1,686		)	—			(19,977		)
Issuance of common stock, net	106,002			—			—			—			106,002
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	(38,168		)	5,994			32,174			—			—
Cash distribution to common stockholders	(588,770		)	—			—			—			(588,770		)
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(3,479		)	—			—			—			(3,479		)
Purchases of redeemable OP units	(317		)	—			—			—			(317		)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	—			—			2,094			—			2,094
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(7,614		)	—			(7,614		)
Other	7,830			—			—			—			7,830
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,346,418			(111,373		)	(905,550		)	—			329,495
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2,716		)	59			(10,520		)	—			(13,177		)
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	—			(59		)	—			—			(59		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16,734			—			51,174			—			67,908
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	14,018		$	—		$	40,654		$	—		$	54,672
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$	(5,543	)	$	156,211		$	558,651		$	—		$	709,319
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,114,598		)	(113		)	(99,195		)	—			(1,213,906		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility	—			255,500			(6,579		)	—			248,921
Proceeds from debt	—			1,255,105			313,277			—			1,568,382
Repayment of debt	—			(521,527		)	(581,473		)	—			(1,103,000		)
Net change in intercompany debt	1,329,833			(1,050,117		)	(279,716		)	—			—
Payment of deferred financing costs	—			(3,395		)	(862		)	—			(4,257		)
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	(13,087		)	(91,722		)	104,809			—			—
Issuance of common stock, net	342,469			—			—			—			342,469
Cash distribution to common stockholders	(545,240		)	—			—			—			(545,240		)
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(3,358		)	—			—			—			(3,358		)
Purchases of redeemable OP units	(1,760		)	—			—			—			(1,760		)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(4,035		)	—			(4,035		)
Other	19,130			—			—			—			19,130
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,127,987			(156,156		)	(454,579		)	—			517,252
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	7,846			(58		)	4,877			—			12,665
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	—			58			—			—			58
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,335			—			43,472			—			45,807
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	10,181		$	—		$	48,349		$	—		$	58,530
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.

ACCOUNTING_POLICIES_Policies

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation		Principles of Consolidation
		The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly owned subsidiaries and the joint venture entities over which we exercise control. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation, and our net earnings are reduced by the portion of net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests.
		GAAP requires us to identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than voting rights and to determine which business enterprise is the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities (“VIEs”). A VIE is broadly defined as an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance the entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack (i) the ability to make decisions about the entity’s activities through voting or similar rights, (ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or (iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the equity investors have voting rights that are not proportional to their economic interests, and substantially all of the entity’s activities either involve, or are conducted on behalf of, an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights. We consolidate our investment in a VIE when we are determined to be its primary beneficiary. We may change our original assessment of a VIE upon subsequent events such as the modification of contractual arrangements that affects the characteristics or adequacy of the entity’s equity investments at risk and the disposition of all or a portion of an interest held by the primary beneficiary.
		We identify the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the entity. We perform this analysis on an ongoing basis. At September 30, 2013, we consolidated all VIEs for which we qualify as the primary beneficiary.
		As it relates to investments in joint ventures, GAAP may preclude consolidation by the sole general partner in certain circumstances based on the type of rights held by the limited partner(s). We assess limited partners’ rights and their impact on the presumption of control of the limited partnership by the sole general partner when an investor becomes the sole general partner, and we reassess if there is a change to the terms or in the exercisability of the rights of the limited partners, the sole general partner increases or decreases its ownership of limited partnership interests, or there is an increase or decrease in the number of outstanding limited partnership interests. We also apply this guidance to managing member interests in limited liability companies.
		Redeemable OP Unitholder and Noncontrolling Interests
		We own a majority interest in NHP/PMB L.P. (“NHP/PMB”), a limited partnership formed in 2008 to acquire properties from entities affiliated with Pacific Medical Buildings LLC. We consolidate NHP/PMB, as our wholly owned subsidiary is the general partner and exercises control of the partnership. As of September 30, 2013, third party investors owned 2,300,419 Class A limited partnership units in NHP/PMB (“OP Units”), which represented 27.2% of the total units then outstanding, and we owned 6,148,481 Class B limited partnership units in NHP/PMB, representing the remaining 72.8%. At any time following the first anniversary of their issuance date, the OP Units may be redeemed at the election of the holder for cash or, at our option, 0.7866 shares of our common stock per unit, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. We are party by assumption to a registration rights agreement with the holders of the OP Units that requires us, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to file and maintain a registration statement relating to the issuance of shares of our common stock upon redemption of OP Units.
		Because redemption rights are beyond our control, we classify the redeemable OP unitholder interests outside of permanent equity on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We reflect the redeemable OP unitholder interests at the greater of cost or fair value. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the fair value of the redeemable OP unitholder interests was $111.7 million and $114.9 million, respectively. We recognize changes in fair value through capital in excess of par value, net of cash distributions paid and purchases by us of any OP Units. Our diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) includes the effect of any potential shares outstanding from redemption of the OP Units.
		Subsequent to September 30, 2013, 158,459 OP units and 132,350 Class B limited partnership units in NHP/PMB were issued in connection with the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest in an existing consolidated MOB by NHP/PMB.
		Certain noncontrolling interests of other consolidated joint ventures were also classified as redeemable at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Accordingly, we record the carrying amount of these noncontrolling interests at the greater of (i) their initial carrying amount, increased or decreased for the noncontrolling interest’s share of net income or loss and distributions, or (ii) the redemption value. With respect to these joint ventures, because our joint venture partner has certain redemption rights that are beyond our control, we classify the redeemable noncontrolling interests outside of permanent equity on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recognize changes in carrying value of redeemable noncontrolling interests through capital in excess of par value.
		Noncontrolling Interests
		Other than redeemable noncontrolling interests described above, we present the portion of any equity that we do not own in entities that we control (and thus consolidate) as noncontrolling interests and classify those interests as a component of consolidated equity, separate from total Ventas stockholders’ equity, on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. For earnings of consolidated joint ventures with pro rata distribution allocations, net income or loss is allocated between the partners in the joint venture based on their respective stated ownership percentages. In other instances, net income or loss is allocated between the partners in the joint venture based on the hypothetical liquidation at book value method (the “HLBV method”). We account for purchases or sales of equity interests that do not result in a change of control as equity transactions, through capital in excess of par value.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments		Fair Values of Financial Instruments
		Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement, and we determine fair value based on the assumptions that we expect market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within levels one and two of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within level three of the hierarchy).
		Level one inputs utilize unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that we have the ability to access. Level two inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in level one that are directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability. Level two inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as other inputs for the asset or liability, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and yield curves, that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level three inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on our own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. If the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the hierarchy, the level within which the entire fair value measurement falls is the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. If the volume and level of market activity for an asset or liability has decreased significantly relative to the normal market activity for such asset or liability (or similar assets or liabilities), then transactions or quoted prices may not accurately reflect fair value. In addition, if there is evidence that a transaction for an asset or liability is not orderly, little, if any, weight is placed on that transaction price as an indicator of fair value. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
		We use the following methods and assumptions in estimating the fair value of our financial instruments.
		•	Cash and cash equivalents - The carrying amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.
		•	Loans receivable - We estimate the fair value of loans receivable using level two and level three inputs: we discount future cash flows using current interest rates at which similar loans with the same maturities and same terms would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings. Additionally, we determine the valuation allowance for losses, if any, on loans receivable using level three inputs.
		•	Marketable debt securities - Whenever possible, we estimate the fair value of marketable debt securities using level two inputs: we observe quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets that we have the ability to access. In other cases, we estimate the fair value of marketable debt securities using level three inputs: we consider credit spreads, underlying asset performance and quality, default rates and any other applicable criteria.
		•	Derivative instruments - With the assistance of a third party, we estimate the fair value of derivative instruments, including interest rate caps, interest rate swaps, and foreign currency forward contracts, using level two inputs: for interest rate caps, we observe forward yield curves and other relevant information; for interest rate swaps, we observe alternative financing rates derived from market-based financing rates, forward yield curves and discount rates; and for foreign currency forward contracts, we estimate the future values of the two currency tranches using forward exchange rates that are based on traded forward points and calculate a present value of the net amount using a discount factor based on observable traded interest rates.
		•	Senior notes payable and other debt - We estimate the fair value of senior notes payable and other debt using level two inputs: we discount the future cash flows using current interest rates at which we could obtain similar borrowings.
		•	Redeemable OP unitholder interests - We estimate the fair value of the OP Units using level two inputs: we base fair value on the closing price of our common stock, as units may be redeemed at the election of the holder for cash or, at our option, 0.7866 shares of our common stock per unit, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.
Revenue Recognition		Revenue Recognition
		Triple-Net Leased Properties and MOB Operations
		Certain of our triple-net leases and most of our MOB leases provide for periodic and determinable increases in base rent. We recognize base rental revenues under these leases on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term when collectability is reasonably assured. Recognizing rental income on a straight-line basis generally results in recognized revenues during the first half of a lease term exceeding the cash amounts contractually due from our tenants, creating a straight-line rent receivable that is included in other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, this cumulative excess (net of allowances) totaled $141.5 million and $120.3 million, respectively.
		Four of our five master lease agreements with Kindred (the “Kindred Master Leases”) and certain of our other leases provide for periodic increases in base rent only if certain revenue parameters or other substantive contingencies are met. We recognize the increased rental revenue under these leases as the related parameters or contingencies are met, rather than on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term.
		Senior Living Operations
		We recognize resident fees and services, other than move-in fees, monthly as services are provided. We recognize move-in fees on a straight-line basis over the average resident stay. Our lease agreements with residents generally have a term of 12 months to 18 months and are cancelable by the resident upon 30 days’ notice.
		Other
		We recognize interest income from loans and investments, including discounts and premiums, using the effective interest method when collectibility is reasonably assured. We apply the effective interest method on a loan-by-loan basis and recognize discounts and premiums as yield adjustments over the related loan term. We recognize interest income on an impaired loan to the extent our estimate of the fair value of the collateral is sufficient to support the balance of the loan, other receivables and all related accrued interest. When the balance of the loan, other receivables and all related accrued interest is equal to our estimate of the fair value of the collateral, we recognize interest income on a cash basis. We provide a reserve against an impaired loan to the extent our total investment in the loan exceeds our estimate of the fair value of the loan collateral.
		We recognize income from rent, lease termination fees, development services, management advisory services, and all other income when all of the following criteria are met in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 104: (i) the applicable agreement has been fully executed and delivered; (ii) services have been rendered; (iii) the amount is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectibility is reasonably assured.
		Allowances
		We assess the collectibility of our rent receivables, including straight-line rent receivables, and we defer recognition of revenue if collectibility is not reasonably assured. We base our assessment of the collectibility of rent receivables (other than straight-line rent receivables) on several factors, including, among other things, payment history, the financial strength of the tenant and any guarantors, the value of the underlying collateral, if any, and current economic conditions. If our evaluation of these factors indicates it is probable that we will be unable to recover the full value of the receivable, we provide a reserve against the portion of the receivable that we estimate may not be recovered. We base our assessment of the collectibility of straight-line rent receivables on several factors, including, among other things, the financial strength of the tenant and any guarantors, the historical operations and operating trends of the property, the historical payment pattern of the tenant, and the type of property. If our evaluation of these factors indicates it is probable that we will be unable to receive the rent payments due in the future, we defer recognition of the straight-line rental revenue and, in certain circumstances, provide a reserve against the previously recognized straight-line rent receivable asset for the portion, up to its full value, that we estimate may not be recovered. If we change our assumptions or estimates regarding the collectibility of future rent payments required by a lease, we may adjust our reserve to increase or reduce the rental revenue recognized and/or to increase or reduce the reserve against the previously recognized straight-line rent receivable asset.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recently Issued or Adopted Accounting Standards
	In January 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”), which requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income if the amount being reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified in its entirety to net income.  For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income within the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference other disclosures that provide additional detail about the reclassified amounts.  We adopted the provisions of ASU 2013-02 on January 1, 2013, and the adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

ACQUISITIONS_OF_REAL_ESTATE_PR1

ACQUISITIONS OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed	We accounted for our 2012 acquisitions under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC 805. The following table summarizes the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which we determined using level two and level three inputs:
		Triple-Net Leased Properties		Senior Living Operations		MOB Operations (1)		Total
		(In thousands)
	Land and improvements	$	21,881	$	60,662	$	112,504	$	195,047
	Buildings and improvements	225,950		413,750		1,085,148		1,724,848
	Construction in progress	—		—		25,579		25,579
	Acquired lease intangibles	2,323		18,070		182,406		202,799
	Other assets	1,519		832		43,747		46,098
	Total assets acquired	251,673		493,314		1,449,384		2,194,371
	Notes payable and other debt	57,219		—		355,606		412,825
	Other liabilities	13,851		11,806		106,367		132,024
	Total liabilities assumed	71,070		11,806		461,973		544,849
	Noncontrolling interest assumed	7,292		—		30,361		37,653
	Net assets acquired	173,311		481,508		957,050		1,611,869
	Cash acquired	1,250		—		24,115		25,365
	Total cash used	$	172,061	$	481,508	$	932,935	$	1,586,504
	(1) Includes the Cogdell acquisition.
	We are accounting for our 2013 acquisitions under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), and have completed our initial accounting, subject to further adjustment. We accounted for the acquisition of the eight seniors housing communities that we previously leased pursuant to a capital lease in accordance with ASC Topic 840, Leases. The following table summarizes the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which we determined using level two and level three inputs:
		Triple-Net Leased Properties		Senior Living Operations (1)		MOB Operations		Total
		(In thousands)
	Land and improvements	$	51,419	$	43,405	$	3,923	$	98,747
	Buildings and improvements	803,227		507,534		134,474		1,445,235
	Acquired lease intangibles	8,945		14,700		10,362		34,007
	Other assets	3,285		2,497		2,453		8,235
	Total assets acquired	866,876		568,136		151,212		1,586,224
	Notes payable and other debt	36,300		5,136		—		41,436
	Other liabilities	11,423		9,668		6,510		27,601
	Total liabilities assumed	47,723		14,804		6,510		69,037
	Noncontrolling interest assumed	10,113		—		1,672		11,785
	Net assets acquired	809,040		553,332		143,030		1,505,402
	Cash acquired	753		—		1,397		2,150
	Total cash used	$	808,287	$	553,332	$	141,633	$	1,503,252
	(1) Includes settlement of a $142.4 million capital lease obligation for eight seniors housing communities.

DISPOSITIONS_Tables

DISPOSITIONS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Summary of the results of operations of properties sold or classified as held for sale
		For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	2,535		$	6,550		$	8,177		$	26,141
	Resident fees and services	—			571			759			5,837
	Interest and other income	—			1,127			—			5,951
		2,535			8,248			8,936			37,929
	Expenses:
	Interest	910			2,473			3,402			10,397
	Depreciation and amortization	10,682			8,082			41,145			28,235
	Property-level operating expenses	80			1,206			964			6,314
	General, administrative and professional fees	—			10			—			302
	Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	—			—			(153		)	—
	Other	(7		)	542			(502		)	1,772
		11,665			12,313			44,856			47,020
	Loss before income taxes and gain on real estate dispositions, net	(9,130		)	(4,065		)	(35,920		)	(9,091		)
	Income tax (expense) benefit	—			(16		)	—			4
	Gain on real estate dispositions, net	46			357			2,241			79,148
	Discontinued operations	$	(9,084	)	$	(3,724	)	$	(33,679	)	$	70,061

INTANGIBLES_Tables

INTANGIBLES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
INTANGIBLES
Schedule of Intangibles	The following is a summary of our intangibles as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		30-Sep-13				31-Dec-12
		Balance			Remaining	Balance			Remaining
					Weighted Average				Weighted Average
					Amortization				Amortization
					Period in Years				Period in Years
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Intangible assets:
	Above market lease intangibles	$	215,490		8.4	$	215,367		9.5
	In-place and other lease intangibles	796,673			23.7	766,337			23.3
	Goodwill and other intangibles	489,787			8.6	523,830			8.6
	Accumulated amortization	(434,876		)	N/A	(352,692		)	N/A
	Net intangible assets	$	1,067,074		19.5	$	1,152,842		19.3
	Intangible liabilities:
	Below market lease intangibles	$	429,309		14.7	$	429,907		15.3
	Other lease intangibles	30,587			24	28,966			15.8
	Accumulated amortization	(108,706		)	N/A	(78,560		)	N/A
	Purchase option intangibles	29,294			N/A	36,048			N/A
	Net intangible liabilities	$	380,484		15	$	416,361		15.3
	N/A—Not Applicable.

OTHER_ASSETS_Tables

OTHER ASSETS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of other assets	The following is a summary of our other assets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(In thousands)
	Straight-line rent receivables, net	$	141,488	$	120,325
	Unsecured loans receivable, net	38,238		62,118
	Goodwill and other intangibles, net	477,983		515,429
	Assets held for sale	135,098		111,556
	Other	211,074		112,257
	Total other assets	$	1,003,881	$	921,685

SENIOR_NOTES_PAYABLE_AND_OTHER1

SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of senior notes payable and other debt	The following is a summary of our senior notes payable and other debt as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
		(In thousands)
	Unsecured revolving credit facility	$	447,970		$	540,727
	6.25% Senior Notes due 2013	—			269,850
	Unsecured term loan due 2015 (1)	125,739			130,336
	3.125% Senior Notes due 2015	400,000			400,000
	6% Senior Notes due 2015	234,420			234,420
	1.55% Senior Notes due 2016	550,000			—
	Unsecured term loan due 2017 (1)	375,000			375,000
	Unsecured term loan due 2018	180,000			180,000
	2.00% Senior Notes due 2018	700,000			700,000
	4.00% Senior Notes due 2019	600,000			600,000
	2.700% Senior Notes due 2020	500,000			—
	4.750% Senior Notes due 2021	700,000			700,000
	4.25% Senior Notes due 2022	600,000			600,000
	3.25% Senior Notes due 2022	500,000			500,000
	6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	52,400			52,400
	6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	22,973			22,973
	5.45% Senior Notes due 2043	258,750			—
	5.70% Senior Notes due 2043	300,000			—
	Mortgage loans and other (2)	2,811,766			2,880,609
	Total	9,359,018			8,186,315
	Capital lease obligations	—			142,412
	Unamortized fair value adjustment	80,320			111,623
	Unamortized discounts	(26,020		)	(26,704		)
	Senior notes payable and other debt	$	9,413,318		$	8,413,646
	-1	These amounts represent in aggregate the approximate $500.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our unsecured term loan facility. Certain amounts included in the 2015 tranche are in the form of Canadian dollar borrowings.
	-2	In October 2013, we repaid in full approximately $40.9 million of the mortgage loans outstanding as of September 30, 2013.
Scheduled maturities of borrowing arrangements and other provisions excluding capital lease obligations	As of September 30, 2013, our indebtedness had the following maturities:
		Principal Amount			Unsecured			Scheduled Periodic		Total Maturities (1)
		Due at Maturity			Revolving Credit			Amortization
					Facility (1)
		(In thousands)
	2013 (2)	$	77,497		$	—		$	13,316	$	90,813
	2014	273,050			—			49,893		322,943
	2015	1,057,536			447,970			41,008		1,546,514
	2016	960,917			—			34,000		994,917
	2017	927,243			—			22,094		949,337
	Thereafter (3)	5,292,084			—			162,410		5,454,494
	Total maturities	$	8,588,327		$	447,970		$	322,721	$	9,359,018
	-1	As of September 30, 2013, we had $54.7 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, for $393.3 million of net borrowings outstanding under our unsecured revolving credit facility. Borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility mature on October 16, 2015, but may be extended for an additional period of one year at our option, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
	-2	In October 2013, we repaid in full approximately $40.9 million of the mortgage loans outstanding as of September 30, 2013.
	-3	Includes $52.4 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.90% senior notes due 2037 that is subject to repurchase, at the option of the holders, on October 1 in each of the years 2017 and 2027, and $23.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.59% senior notes due 2038 that is subject to repurchase, at the option of the holders, on July 7 in each of the years 2018, 2023 and 2028.

FAIR_VALUES_OF_FINANCIAL_INSTR1

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the carrying amounts and fair values of our financial instruments were as follows:
		30-Sep-13				31-Dec-12
		Carrying		Fair Value		Carrying		Fair Value
		Amount				Amount
		(In thousands)
	Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,672	$	54,672	$	67,908	$	67,908
	Secured loans receivable, net	379,727		388,780		635,002		636,714
	Unsecured loans receivable, net	38,238		40,762		62,118		65,146
	Marketable debt securities	21,162		21,162		5,400		5,400
	Liabilities:
	Senior notes payable and other debt, gross	9,359,018		9,471,240		8,186,315		8,600,450
	Derivative instruments and other liabilities	16,360		16,360		45,966		45,966
	Redeemable OP unitholder interests	111,697		111,697		114,933		114,933

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY_Tables

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The following is a summary of our accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
		(In thousands)
	Foreign currency translation	$	20,293		$	23,441
	Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable debt securities	(208		)	807
	Other	1,208			(894		)
	Total accumulated other comprehensive income	$	21,293		$	23,354

EARNINGS_PER_COMMON_SHARE_Tabl

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share	The following table shows the amounts used in computing our basic and diluted earnings per common share:
		For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(In thousands, except per share amounts)
	Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$	127,380		$	115,606		$	378,748		$	206,472
	Discontinued operations	(9,084		)	(3,724		)	(33,679		)	70,061
	Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	118,296		$	111,882		$	345,069		$	276,533
	Denominator:
	Denominator for basic earnings per share—weighted average shares	292,818			294,928			292,308			291,177
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options	483			522			578			509
	Restricted stock awards	75			121			114			86
	OP units	1,814			1,836			1,788			1,850
	Denominator for diluted earnings per share—adjusted weighted average shares	295,190			297,407			294,788			293,622
	Basic earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$	0.43		$	0.39		$	1.3		$	0.71
	Discontinued operations	(0.03		)	(0.01		)	(0.12		)	0.24
	Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	0.4		$	0.38		$	1.18		$	0.95
	Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$	0.43		$	0.39		$	1.28		$	0.7
	Discontinued operations	(0.03		)	(0.01		)	(0.11		)	0.24
	Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	0.4		$	0.38		$	1.17		$	0.94

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Tables

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Summary information by reportable business segment	For the three months ended September 30, 2013:
		Triple-Net		Senior			MOB		All			Total
		Leased		Living			Operations		Other
		Properties		Operations
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	219,170	$	—		$	115,444	$	—		$	334,614
	Resident fees and services	—		359,112			—		—			359,112
	Medical office building and other services revenue	1,116		—			2,530		500			4,146
	Income from loans and investments	—		—			—		14,448			14,448
	Interest and other income	—		—			—		66			66
	Total revenues	$	220,286	$	359,112		$	117,974	$	15,014		$	712,386
	Total revenues	$	220,286	$	359,112		$	117,974	$	15,014		$	712,386
	Less:
	Interest and other income	—		—			—		66			66
	Property-level operating expenses	—		244,316			40,796		—			285,112
	Medical office building services costs	—		—			1,651		—			1,651
	Segment NOI	220,286		114,796			75,527		14,948			425,557
	Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	203		(32		)	71		(132		)	110
	Segment profit	$	220,489	$	114,764		$	75,598	$	14,816		425,667
	Interest and other income											66
	Interest expense											(84,089		)
	Depreciation and amortization											(177,710		)
	General, administrative and professional fees											(28,659		)
	Gain on extinguishment of debt											189
	Merger-related expenses and deal costs											(6,208		)
	Other											(4,353		)
	Income tax benefit											2,780
	Discontinued operations											(9,084		)
	Net income											$	118,599
	For the three months ended September 30, 2012:
		Triple-Net		Senior			MOB		All			Total
		Leased		Living			Operations		Other
		Properties		Operations
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	207,372	$	—		$	100,814	$	—		$	308,186
	Resident fees and services	—		316,560			—		—			316,560
	Medical office building and other services revenue	1,110		—			3,434		—			4,544
	Income from loans and investments	—		—			—		9,035			9,035
	Interest and other income	—		—			—		330			330
	Total revenues	$	208,482	$	316,560		$	104,248	$	9,365		$	638,655
	Total revenues	$	208,482	$	316,560		$	104,248	$	9,365		$	638,655
	Less:
	Interest and other income	—		—			—		330			330
	Property-level operating expenses	—		216,306			36,144		—			252,450
	Medical office building services costs	—		—			1,487		—			1,487
	Segment NOI	208,482		100,254			66,617		9,035			384,388
	Income from unconsolidated entities	348		—			16,726		—			17,074
	Segment profit	$	208,830	$	100,254		$	83,343	$	9,035		401,462
	Interest and other income											330
	Interest expense											(74,037		)
	Depreciation and amortization											(188,540		)
	General, administrative and professional fees											(26,867		)
	Gain on extinguishment of debt											1,194
	Merger-related expenses and deal costs											(4,917		)
	Other											(1,966		)
	Income tax benefit											8,886
	Discontinued operations											(3,724		)
	Net income											$	111,821
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2013:
		Triple-Net		Senior			MOB		All			Total
		Leased		Living			Operations		Other
		Properties		Operations
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	645,719	$	—		$	337,536	$	—		$	983,255
Resident fees and services	—		1,039,876			—		—			1,039,876
Medical office building and other services revenue	3,342		—			7,226		763			11,331
Income from loans and investments	—		—			—		45,284			45,284
Interest and other income	—		—			—		1,901			1,901
Total revenues	$	649,061	$	1,039,876		$	344,762	$	47,948		$	2,081,647
Total revenues	$	649,061	$	1,039,876		$	344,762	$	47,948		$	2,081,647
Less:
Interest and other income	—		—			—		1,901			1,901
Property-level operating expenses	—		706,561			115,738		—			822,299
Medical office building services costs	—		—			4,957		—			4,957
Segment NOI	649,061		333,315			224,067		46,047			1,252,490
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	573		(1,173		)	1,456		(323		)	533
Segment profit	$	649,634	$	332,142		$	225,523	$	45,724		1,253,023
Interest and other income											1,901
Interest expense											(245,622		)
Depreciation and amortization											(528,180		)
General, administrative and professional fees											(84,760		)
Gain on extinguishment of debt											909
Merger-related expenses and deal costs											(17,137		)
Other											(13,325		)
Income tax benefit											13,100
Discontinued operations											(33,679		)
Net income											$	346,230
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012:
	Triple-Net		Senior			MOB		All			Total
	Leased		Living			Operations		Other
	Properties		Operations
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	613,939	$	—		$	253,889	$	—		$	867,828
Resident fees and services	—		905,190			—		—			905,190
Medical office building and other services revenue	3,329		—			13,462		—			16,791
Income from loans and investments	—		—			—		25,223			25,223
Interest and other income	—		—			—		442			442
Total revenues	$	617,268	$	905,190		$	267,351	$	25,665		$	1,815,474
Total revenues	$	617,268	$	905,190		$	267,351	$	25,665		$	1,815,474
Less:
Interest and other income	—		—			—		442			442
Property-level operating expenses	—		618,471			86,468		—			704,939
Medical office building services costs	—		—			8,314		—			8,314
Segment NOI	617,268		286,719			172,569		25,223			1,101,779
Income from unconsolidated entities	1,068		—			16,837		—			17,905
Segment profit	$	618,336	$	286,719		$	189,406	$	25,223		1,119,684
Interest and other income											442
Interest expense											(214,028		)
Depreciation and amortization											(534,792		)
General, administrative and professional fees											(75,488		)
Loss on extinguishment of debt											(38,339		)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs											(49,566		)
Other											(5,052		)
Income tax benefit											2,727
Discontinued operations											70,061
Net income											$	275,649
Capital expenditures, including investments in real estate property and development project expenditures, by reportable business segment	Capital expenditures, including investments in real estate property and development project expenditures, by reportable business segment are as follows:
		For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013		2012			2013		2012
		(In thousands)
	Capital expenditures:
	Triple-net leased	$	793,594	$	25,535		$	838,598	$	39,415
	Senior living	226,442		20,510			471,531		369,341
	MOB	99,706		257,479			173,978		878,545
	Total capital expenditures	$	1,119,742	$	303,524		$	1,484,107	$	1,287,301
Revenues from external customers by geographic area	Geographic information regarding our operations is as follows:
		For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013		2012			2013		2012
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	United States	$	689,062	$	614,310		$	2,011,491	$	1,743,899
	Canada	23,324		24,345			70,156		71,575
	Total revenues	$	712,386	$	638,655		$	2,081,647	$	1,815,474
Net real estate property by geographic area
		As of September 30, 2013		As of December 31, 2012
		(In thousands)
	Net real estate property:
	United States	$	17,794,819	$	16,711,508
	Canada	380,124		400,024
	Total net real estate property	$	18,174,943	$	17,111,532

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_INFORM1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Information [Abstract]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	As of September 30, 2013
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Assets
	Net real estate investments	$	7,161		$	387,869		$	18,272,333		$	—		$	18,667,363
	Cash and cash equivalents	14,018			—			40,654			—			54,672
	Escrow deposits and restricted cash	2,104			1,635			94,461			—			98,200
	Deferred financing costs, net	758			46,514			7,970			—			55,242
	Investment in and advances to affiliates	11,713,622			1,867,250			—			(13,580,872		)	—
	Other assets	49,187			7,000			947,694			—			1,003,881
	Total assets	$	11,786,850		$	2,310,268		$	19,363,112		$	(13,580,872	)	$	19,879,358
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Senior notes payable and other debt	$	—		$	6,089,730		$	3,323,588		$	—		$	9,413,318
	Intercompany loans	5,299,822			(5,742,316		)	442,494			—			—
	Accrued interest	—			39,457			22,719			—			62,176
	Accounts payable and other liabilities	106,537			11,038			901,591			—			1,019,166
	Deferred income taxes	248,369			—			—			—			248,369
	Total liabilities	5,654,728			397,909			4,690,392			—			10,743,029
	Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	—			—			171,921			—			171,921
	Total equity	6,132,122			1,912,359			14,500,799			(13,580,872		)	8,964,408
	Total liabilities and equity	$	11,786,850		$	2,310,268		$	19,363,112		$	(13,580,872	)	$	19,879,358
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	As of December 31, 2012
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Assets
	Net real estate investments	$	7,615		$	412,362		$	17,421,966		$	—		$	17,841,943
	Cash and cash equivalents	16,734			—			51,174			—			67,908
	Escrow deposits and restricted cash	7,565			1,952			96,396			—			105,913
	Deferred financing costs, net	757			34,047			7,747			—			42,551
	Investment in and advances to affiliates	10,343,664			1,867,250			—			(12,210,914		)	—
	Other assets	26,282			4,043			891,360			—			921,685
	Total assets	$	10,402,617		$	2,319,654		$	18,468,643		$	(12,210,914	)	$	18,980,000
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Senior notes payable and other debt	$	—		$	4,570,296		$	3,843,350		$	—		$	8,413,646
	Intercompany loans	3,425,082			(4,126,391		)	701,309			—			—
	Accrued interest	—			24,045			23,520			—			47,565
	Accounts payable and other liabilities	99,631			7,775			887,750			—			995,156
	Deferred income taxes	259,715			—			—			—			259,715
	Total liabilities	3,784,428			475,725			5,455,929			—			9,716,082
	Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	—			—			174,555			—			174,555
	Total equity	6,618,189			1,843,929			12,838,159			(12,210,914		)	9,089,363
	Total liabilities and equity	$	10,402,617		$	2,319,654		$	18,468,643		$	(12,210,914	)	$	18,980,000
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME	December 31, 2012
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Assets
	Net real estate investments	$	7,615		$	412,362		$	17,421,966		$	—		$	17,841,943
	Cash and cash equivalents	16,734			—			51,174			—			67,908
	Escrow deposits and restricted cash	7,565			1,952			96,396			—			105,913
	Deferred financing costs, net	757			34,047			7,747			—			42,551
	Investment in and advances to affiliates	10,343,664			1,867,250			—			(12,210,914		)	—
	Other assets	26,282			4,043			891,360			—			921,685
	Total assets	$	10,402,617		$	2,319,654		$	18,468,643		$	(12,210,914	)	$	18,980,000
	Liabilities and equity
	Liabilities:
	Senior notes payable and other debt	$	—		$	4,570,296		$	3,843,350		$	—		$	8,413,646
	Intercompany loans	3,425,082			(4,126,391		)	701,309			—			—
	Accrued interest	—			24,045			23,520			—			47,565
	Accounts payable and other liabilities	99,631			7,775			887,750			—			995,156
	Deferred income taxes	259,715			—			—			—			259,715
	Total liabilities	3,784,428			475,725			5,455,929			—			9,716,082
	Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	—			—			174,555			—			174,555
	Total equity	6,618,189			1,843,929			12,838,159			(12,210,914		)	9,089,363
	Total liabilities and equity	$	10,402,617		$	2,319,654		$	18,468,643		$	(12,210,914	)	$	18,980,000
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	609		$	69,894		$	264,111		$	—		$	334,614
	Resident fees and services	—			—			359,112			—			359,112
	Medical office building and other services revenue	—			—			4,146			—			4,146
	Income from loans and investments	—			90			14,358			—			14,448
	Equity earnings in affiliates	118,136			—			202			(118,338		)	—
	Interest and other income	19			10			37			—			66
	Total revenues	118,764			69,994			641,966			(118,338		)	712,386
	Expenses:
	Interest	(512		)	36,703			47,898			—			84,089
	Depreciation and amortization	1,308			7,912			168,490			—			177,710
	Property-level operating expenses	—			153			284,959			—			285,112
	Medical office building services costs	—			—			1,651			—			1,651
	General, administrative and professional fees	437			5,375			22,847			—			28,659
	Gain on extinguishment of debt	—			—			(189		)	—			(189		)
	Merger-related expenses and deal costs	2,038			—			4,170			—			6,208
	Other	23			17			4,313			—			4,353
	Total expenses	3,294			50,160			534,139			—			587,593
	Income from continuing operations before income/loss from unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interest	115,470			19,834			107,827			(118,338		)	124,793
	Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	—			272			(162		)	—			110
	Income tax benefit	2,780			—			—			—			2,780
	Income from continuing operations	118,250			20,106			107,665			(118,338		)	127,683
	Discontinued operations	46			80			(9,210		)	—			(9,084		)
	Net income	118,296			20,186			98,455			(118,338		)	118,599
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			303			—			303
	Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	118,296		$	20,186		$	98,152		$	(118,338	)	$	118,296
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Revenues:
	Rental income	$	640		$	69,262		$	238,284		$	—		$	308,186
	Resident fees and services	—			—			316,560			—			316,560
Medical office building and other services revenue	—			—			4,544			—			4,544
Income from loans and investments	951			301			7,783			—			9,035
Equity earnings in affiliates	115,319			—			318			(115,637		)	—
Interest and other income	12			10			308			—			330
Total revenues	116,922			69,573			567,797			(115,637		)	638,655
Expenses:
Interest	(1,139		)	23,295			51,881			—			74,037
Depreciation and amortization	1,057			7,484			179,999			—			188,540
Property-level operating expenses	—			128			252,322			—			252,450
Medical office building services costs	—			—			1,487			—			1,487
General, administrative and professional fees	1,028			8,092			17,747			—			26,867
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt	—			17			(1,211		)	—			(1,194		)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	12,552			—			(7,635		)	—			4,917
Other	(5		)	—			1,971			—			1,966
Total expenses	13,493			39,016			496,561			—			549,070
Income from continuing operations before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interest	103,429			30,557			71,236			(115,637		)	89,585
Income from unconsolidated entities	—			429			16,645			—			17,074
Income tax benefit	8,886			—			—			—			8,886
Income from continuing operations	112,315			30,986			87,881			(115,637		)	115,545
Discontinued operations	(433		)	857			(4,148		)	—			(3,724		)
Net income	111,882			31,843			83,733			(115,637		)	111,821
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(61		)	—			(61		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	111,882		$	31,843		$	83,794		$	(115,637	)	$	111,882
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	1,868		$	209,933		$	771,454		$	—		$	983,255
Resident fees and services	—			—			1,039,876			—			1,039,876
Medical office building and other services revenue	—			—			11,331			—			11,331
Income from loans and investments	1,262			877			43,145			—			45,284
Equity earnings in affiliates	339,339			—			675			(340,014		)	—
Interest and other income	315			21			1,565			—			1,901
Total revenues	342,784			210,831			1,868,046			(340,014		)	2,081,647
Expenses:
Interest	(1,453		)	105,180			141,895			—			245,622
Depreciation and amortization	3,600			23,068			501,512			—			528,180
Property-level operating expenses	—			396			821,903			—			822,299
Medical office building services costs	—			—			4,957			—			4,957
General, administrative and professional fees	1,580			16,161			67,019			—			84,760
Gain on extinguishment of debt	—			—			(909		)	—			(909		)
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	9,013			—			8,124			—			17,137
Other	316			38			12,971			—			13,325
Total expenses	13,056			144,843			1,557,472			—			1,715,371
Income from continuing operations before income/loss from unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interest	329,728			65,988			310,574			(340,014		)	366,276
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	—			776			(243		)	—			533
Income tax benefit	13,100			—			—			—			13,100
Income from continuing operations	342,828			66,764			310,331			(340,014		)	379,909
Discontinued operations	2,241			702			(36,622		)	—			(33,679		)
Net income	345,069			67,466			273,709			(340,014		)	346,230
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			1,161			—			1,161
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	345,069		$	67,466		$	272,548		$	(340,014	)	$	345,069
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
	Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
				Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
	(In thousands)
Revenues:
Rental income	$	1,898		$	205,601		$	660,329		$	—		$	867,828
Resident fees and services	—			—			905,190			—			905,190
Medical office building and other services revenue	—			—			16,791			—			16,791
Income from loans and investments	2,841			1,330			21,052			—			25,223
Equity earnings in affiliates	228,099			—			537			(228,636		)	—
Interest and other income	97			20			325			—			442
Total revenues	232,935			206,951			1,604,224			(228,636		)	1,815,474
Expenses:
Interest	(3,375		)	68,227			149,176			—			214,028
Depreciation and amortization	2,576			28,242			503,974			—			534,792
Property-level operating expenses	—			369			704,570			—			704,939
Medical office building services costs	—			—			8,314			—			8,314
General, administrative and professional fees	4,839			22,204			48,445			—			75,488
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt	—			39,737			(1,398		)	—			38,339
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	42,605			—			6,961			—			49,566
Other	(4		)	—			5,056			—			5,052
Total expenses	46,641			158,779			1,425,098			—			1,630,518
Income from continuing operations before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interest	186,294			48,172			179,126			(228,636		)	184,956
Income from unconsolidated entities	—			1,260			16,645			—			17,905
Income tax benefit	2,727			—			—			—			2,727
Income from continuing operations	189,021			49,432			195,771			(228,636		)	205,588
Discontinued operations	87,512			4,300			(21,751		)	—			70,061
Net income	276,533			53,732			174,020			(228,636		)	275,649
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(884		)	—			(884		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	276,533		$	53,732		$	174,904		$	(228,636	)	$	276,533
-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Net income	$	118,296		$	20,186		$	98,455		$	(118,338	)	$	118,599
	Other comprehensive income (loss):
	Foreign currency translation	—			—			1,665			—			1,665
	Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(208		)	—			—			—			(208		)
	Other	—			—			84			—			84
	Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(208		)	—			1,749			—			1,541
	Comprehensive income	118,088			20,186			100,204			(118,338		)	120,140
	Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			303			—			303
	Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	118,088		$	20,186		$	99,901		$	(118,338	)	$	119,837
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Net income	$	111,882		$	31,843		$	83,733		$	(115,637	)	$	111,821
	Other comprehensive income (loss):
	Foreign currency translation	—			—			2,838			—			2,838
	Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(509		)	—			—			—			(509		)
	Other	—			—			(107		)	—			(107		)
	Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(509		)	—			2,731			—			2,222
	Comprehensive income	111,373			31,843			86,464			(115,637		)	114,043
	Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(61		)	—			(61		)
	Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	111,373		$	31,843		$	86,525		$	(115,637	)	$	114,104
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Net income	$	345,069		$	67,466		$	273,709		$	(340,014	)	$	346,230
	Other comprehensive income (loss):
	Foreign currency translation	—			—			(3,148		)	—			(3,148		)
	Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(1,015		)	—			—			—			(1,015		)
	Other	—			—			2,102			—			2,102
	Total other comprehensive loss	(1,015		)	—			(1,046		)	—			(2,061		)
	Comprehensive income	344,054			67,466			272,663			(340,014		)	344,169
	Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			1,161			—			1,161
	Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	344,054		$	67,466		$	271,502		$	(340,014	)	$	343,008
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Net income	$	276,533		$	53,732		$	174,020		$	(228,636	)	$	275,649
	Other comprehensive income (loss):
	Foreign currency translation	—			—			3,180			—			3,180
	Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	(1,220		)	—			—			—			(1,220		)
	Other	—			—			(396		)	—			(396		)
	Total other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,220		)	—			2,784			—			1,564
	Comprehensive income	275,313			53,732			176,804			(228,636		)	277,213
	Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(884		)	—			(884		)
	Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	275,313		$	53,732		$	177,688		$	(228,636	)	$	278,097
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$	(11,070	)	$	114,924		$	731,575		$	—		$	835,429
	Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,338,064		)	(3,492		)	163,455			—			(1,178,101		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility	—			(90,000		)	(2,586		)	—			(92,586		)
	Proceeds from debt	—			1,606,849			159,995			—			1,766,844
	Repayment of debt	(11,420		)	—			(829,112		)	—			(840,532		)
	Net change in intercompany debt	1,874,740			(1,615,925		)	(258,815		)	—			—
	Payment of deferred financing costs	—			(18,291		)	(1,686		)	—			(19,977		)
	Issuance of common stock, net	106,002			—			—			—			106,002
	Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	(38,168		)	5,994			32,174			—			—
	Cash distribution to common stockholders	(588,770		)	—			—			—			(588,770		)
	Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(3,479		)	—			—			—			(3,479		)
	Purchases of redeemable OP units	(317		)	—			—			—			(317		)
	Contributions from noncontrolling interest	—			—			2,094			—			2,094
	Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(7,614		)	—			(7,614		)
	Other	7,830			—			—			—			7,830
	Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,346,418			(111,373		)	(905,550		)	—			329,495
	Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2,716		)	59			(10,520		)	—			(13,177		)
	Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	—			(59		)	—			—			(59		)
	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16,734			—			51,174			—			67,908
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	14,018		$	—		$	40,654		$	—		$	54,672
	-1	Certain of Ventas Realty’s outstanding senior notes were issued jointly with our 100% owned subsidiary, Ventas Capital Corporation, which has no assets or operations.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Ventas, Inc.			Ventas			Ventas			Consolidated			Consolidated
					Realty (1)			Subsidiaries			Elimination
		(In thousands)
	Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$	(5,543	)	$	156,211		$	558,651		$	—		$	709,319
	Net cash used in investing activities	(1,114,598		)	(113		)	(99,195		)	—			(1,213,906		)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility	—			255,500			(6,579		)	—			248,921
	Proceeds from debt	—			1,255,105			313,277			—			1,568,382
	Repayment of debt	—			(521,527		)	(581,473		)	—			(1,103,000		)
	Net change in intercompany debt	1,329,833			(1,050,117		)	(279,716		)	—			—
	Payment of deferred financing costs	—			(3,395		)	(862		)	—			(4,257		)
	Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	(13,087		)	(91,722		)	104,809			—			—
	Issuance of common stock, net	342,469			—			—			—			342,469
	Cash distribution to common stockholders	(545,240		)	—			—			—			(545,240		)
	Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	(3,358		)	—			—			—			(3,358		)
	Purchases of redeemable OP units	(1,760		)	—			—			—			(1,760		)
	Distributions to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(4,035		)	—			(4,035		)
	Other	19,130			—			—			—			19,130
	Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,127,987			(156,156		)	(454,579		)	—			517,252
	Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	7,846			(58		)	4,877			—			12,665
	Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	—			58			—			—			58
	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,335			—			43,472			—			45,807
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	10,181		$	—		$	48,349		$	—		$	58,530

DESCRIPTION_OF_BUSINESS_Detail

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
	property
Real estate properties
Number of real estate properties	1,500
Number of states	46
Number of Canadian provinces	2
Number of properties leased	910
Seniors housing communities
Real estate properties
Number of independent third party managed properties	237
Development Projects
Real estate properties
Number of real estate properties	3
Kindred
Real estate properties
Number of properties leased	143
Brookdale Senior Living
Real estate properties
Number of properties leased	145
Number of properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities	-6
Seniors Housing Communities | Senior Living Operations | Dispositions 2013 [Member]
Real estate properties
Number of Real Estate Properties Sold	1

ACCOUNTING_POLICIES_Details

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
	tranche		NHPPMBLP [Member]	NHPPMBLP [Member]	NHPPMBLP [Member]	NHPPMBLP [Member]	NHPPMBLP [Member]
				Class A Units	Class A Units	Class B Units	Class B Units
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Limited partnership units held by third party investors (in shares)				2,300,419
Percentage of ownership interest on total units outstanding				27.20%		72.80%
Limited partnership units outstanding (in shares)						6,148,481
Number of entity shares issued in exchange for redemption of OP Units			$0.79
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Issued					158,459
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Issued							132,350
Fair value of operating partnership units exceeding cost	$111,700	$114,900
Number of foreign currency tranches reported at fair value	2

ACCOUNTING_POLICIES_Details_2

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 2) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Straight-line rent receivables	$141,488	$120,325
Term of resident lease agreements, minimum	12 months
Term of resident lease agreements, maximum	18 months
Notice period to cancel lease agreements by the resident	30 days
Kindred
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of Master Leases Without Straight Line Treatment	4
Number of Master Leases	5

CONCENTRATION_OF_CREDIT_RISK_D

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK (Details) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

state

Seniors housing communities

Kindred

Kindred

Atria and Sunrise [Member]

Total gross book value of properties

Total gross book value of properties

Total gross book value of properties

Total gross book value of properties

Total gross book value of properties

Total gross book value of properties

Total revenues

Total revenues

Total revenues

Total revenues

Total revenues

Total NOI

Total NOI

Total NOI

Total NOI

Total NOI

ATRIA

ATRIA

Skilled Nursing Facilities

Hospitals

province

property

Lease

Seniors housing communities

Seniors housing communities

Skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, MOBs and other healthcare assets

ATRIA

SUNRISE

Brookdale Senior Living

Kindred

state

Brookdale Senior Living

Brookdale Senior Living

Kindred

Kindred

state

Brookdale Senior Living

Brookdale Senior Living

Kindred

Kindred

Kindred

Kindred

property

Lease

Lease

Concentration Risk [Line Items]

Percentage of real estate investments based on gross book value

63.90%

36.10%

19.50%

13.90%

9.70%

3.30%

5.50%

6.10%

7.60%

10.10%

9.10%

10.20%

12.70%

16.80%

Number of Leases Renewed

48

26

22

Annual Base Rent Of Renewed Leases

$78

Increase In Base Rent On Renewed Leases

15

Payment Received Related To Lease Renewal

$20

Number of Leases Set to Expire

108

Number of states accounting for more than 10% of total revenues

1

Number of states accounting for more than 10% of net operating income

1

Ownership interests accounted for under the equity method (as a percent)

5.00%

34.00%

34.00%

Real estate properties

Number of seniors housing communities under long-term management agreements

237

235

Number of states

46

Number of Canadian provinces

2

ACQUISITIONS_OF_REAL_ESTATE_PR2

ACQUISITIONS OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY (Details) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified

Apr. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Apr. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Apr. 30, 2012

31-May-12

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

2013 Acquisitions

2013 Acquisitions

2013 Acquisitions

2013 Acquisitions

2013 Acquisitions

2013 Acquisitions

2013 Acquisitions

2013 Acquisitions

2013 Acquisitions

Developement Projects

Developement Projects

Developement Projects

Developement Projects

Developement Projects

Developement Projects

Developement Projects

2012 Acquisitions

2012 Acquisitions

2012 Acquisitions

2012 Acquisitions

ATRIA

Funds Previously Managed by LFREI

Cogdell Spencer Inc

Cogdell Spencer Inc

Cogdell Spencer Inc

SUNRISE

Other Acquisitions

Other Acquisitions

Other Acquisitions

Other Acquisitions

Triple-Net Leased Properties

Triple-Net Leased Properties

Triple-Net Leased Properties

Senior Living Operations

Senior Living Operations

MOB Operations

MOB Operations

MOB Operations

Seniors Housing Communities

Seniors Housing Communities

Medical Office Buildings

Medical Office Buildings

Hospitals

Triple-Net Leased Properties

Senior Living Operations

MOB Operations

Medical Office Buildings

Seniors Housing Communities

Seniors Housing Communities

Skilled Nursing Facilities

Medical Office Buildings

Medical Office Buildings

Seniors Housing Communities

Seniors Housing Communities

Seniors Housing Communities

Medical Office Buildings

Medical Office Buildings

property

property

property

property

property

property

property

property

property

property

Unconsolidated Properties

property

Corporate Joint Venture

property

property

Equity Method Investee

property

property

property

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Ownership interests accounted for under the equity method (as a percent)

5.00%

34.00%

Treasury stock, shares

3,699

3,699

3,699

3,700

Extinguished performance-based payment

$44,000,000

Number of real estate properties acquired

27

1

22

10

2

71

16

21

2

44

36

Number of real estate properties acquired, managed by property management business

44

Number of real estate properties acquired, previously capital leases

8

Business combination, consideration transferred

860,000,000

700,000,000

150,000,000

760,000,000

Business combination, joint venture partners' share of net debt assumed

36,300,000

Business combination, right to receive cash, per share of common stock outstanding (in dollars per share)

$4.25

Preferred stock, dividend rate, percentage

8.50%

Business combination, consideration transferred per share of preferred stock (in dollars per share)

$25

Business combination, notes payable and other debt assumed

41,436,000

36,300,000

5,136,000

0

412,825,000

57,219,000

0

355,606,000

203,800,000

Number of real estate properties completed

2

2

1

3

1

Net real estate property

18,174,943,000

18,174,943,000

17,111,532,000

65,200,000

116,900,000

Settlement of capital lease obligation

142,400,000

Business acquisition, transaction costs

11,300,000

28,600,000

Merger-related expenses and deal costs

$6,208,000

$4,917,000

$17,137,000

$49,566,000

$10,400,000

$28,600,000

ACQUISITIONS_OF_REAL_ESTATE_PR3

ACQUISITIONS OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY (Details 2) (USD $)	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
	2013 Acquisitions	2013 Acquisitions	2013 Acquisitions	2013 Acquisitions	2012 Acquisitions	2012 Acquisitions	2012 Acquisitions	2012 Acquisitions
		Triple-Net Leased Properties	Senior Living Operations	MOB Operations		Triple-Net Leased Properties	Senior Living Operations	MOB Operations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Land and improvements	$98,747	$51,419	$43,405	$3,923	$195,047	$21,881	$60,662	$112,504
Buildings and improvements	1,445,235	803,227	507,534	134,474	1,724,848	225,950	413,750	1,085,148
Construction in progress					25,579	0	0	25,579
Acquired lease intangibles	34,007	8,945	14,700	10,362	202,799	2,323	18,070	182,406
Other assets	8,235	3,285	2,497	2,453	46,098	1,519	832	43,747
Total assets acquired	1,586,224	866,876	568,136	151,212	2,194,371	251,673	493,314	1,449,384
Notes payable and other debt	41,436	36,300	5,136	0	412,825	57,219	0	355,606
Other liabilities	27,601	11,423	9,668	6,510	132,024	13,851	11,806	106,367
Total liabilities assumed	69,037	47,723	14,804	6,510	544,849	71,070	11,806	461,973
Noncontrolling interest assumed	11,785	10,113	0	1,672	37,653	7,292	0	30,361
Net assets acquired	1,505,402	809,040	553,332	143,030	1,611,869	173,311	481,508	957,050
Cash acquired	2,150	753	0	1,397	25,365	1,250	0	24,115
Total cash used	$1,503,252	$808,287	$553,332	$141,633	$1,586,504	$172,061	$481,508	$932,935

DISPOSITIONS_Details

DISPOSITIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
					Seniors Housing Communities	2013 Dispositions	2013 Dispositions	2013 Dispositions	2013 Dispositions	2013 Dispositions	2013 Dispositions	2012 Dispositions	2012 Dispositions	2012 Dispositions	2012 Dispositions	2012 Dispositions
					property	property	Triple-Net Leased Properties	Triple-Net Leased Properties	Triple-Net Leased Properties	Senior Living Operations	MOB Operations	MOB Operations	Seniors Housing Communities	Skilled Nursing Facilities	Triple-Net Leased Properties	MOB Operations
								Skilled Nursing Facilities	Seniors Housing Communities	Seniors Housing Communities	Medical Office Buildings		property	property		Medical Office Buildings
								property	property	property	property
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals
Number of real estate properties sold								10	6	1	2	5	36	2
Number of real estate properties sold, pursuant to tenant purcahse option													10
Proceeds from disposition of assets, including termination fees							$25,300,000			$1,600,000	$1,800,000				$318,900,000	$27,200,000
Disposition of assets, termination fees							300,000								5,000,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets							2,000,000				500,000				81,000,000	4,500,000
Number of real estate properties sold, properties held in escrow													21
Proceeds from disposition of assets, exchanged in escrow account													134,500,000
Number of operating leases not renewed					2
Properties classified as held for sale						17
Revenues:
Rental income	2,535,000	6,550,000	8,177,000	26,141,000
Resident fees and services	0	571,000	759,000	5,837,000
Interest and other income	0	1,127,000	0	5,951,000
Total Revenues	2,535,000	8,248,000	8,936,000	37,929,000
Expenses:
Interest	910,000	2,473,000	3,402,000	10,397,000
Depreciation and amortization	10,682,000	8,082,000	41,145,000	28,235,000
Property-level operating expenses	80,000	1,206,000	964,000	6,314,000
General, administrative and professional fees	0	10,000	0	302,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	-153,000	0
Other	-7,000	542,000	-502,000	1,772,000
Total expenses	11,665,000	12,313,000	44,856,000	47,020,000
Loss before income taxes and gain on real estate dispositions, net	-9,130,000	-4,065,000	-35,920,000	-9,091,000
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	-16,000	0	4,000
(Loss) gain on real estate dispositions, net	46,000	357,000	2,241,000	79,148,000
Discontinued operations	-9,084,000	-3,724,000	-33,679,000	70,061,000
Other Asset Impairment Charges			$34,500,000	$2,100,000

LOANS_RECEIVABLE_Details

LOANS RECEIVABLE (Details) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

31-May-13

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 25, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jul. 31, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

31-May-13

Dec. 31, 2012

Secured Loans Receivable

Unsecured Loans Receivable [Domain]

Eight Percent Loan Receivable Maturing in 2017 [Member]

Eight Percent Loan Receivable Maturing in 2017 [Member]

Eight Percent Loan Receivable Maturing in 2017 [Member]

Senior Secured Portion Sold Eight Percent Loan Receivable Maturing in 2017 [Member]

Twelve Percent Loan Receivable Maturing in 2017 [Member]

Twelve Percent Loan Receivable Maturing in 2017 [Member]

loan

loan

Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]

Secured loans receivable, net

$439,100,000

$697,100,000

Proceeds from loans receivable

299,156,000

34,817,000

78,600,000

Number of loans repaid

6

1

Gain on sales of loans

3,600,000

Payments to Acquire Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) categorized as Available-for-sale

21,000,000

Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis

21,400,000

Available-for-sale Securities

21,200,000

Loans receivable, aggregate principal amount

183,000,000

375,000,000

50,000,000

Loans receivable, interest rate

8.00%

9.40%

4.50%

12.00%

Proceeds from Sale of Loans Receivable

$66,400,000

$25,000,000

INVESTMENTS_IN_UNCONSOLIDATED_1

INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Two Medical Office Buildings Acquired March 2013

Unconsolidated Properties

Unconsolidated Properties

Unconsolidated Properties

Unconsolidated Properties

Unconsolidated Properties

Unconsolidated Properties

ATRIA

ATRIA

property

property

property

Minimum

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Management fees earned in connection with unconsolidated entities

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$4,100,000

$5,700,000

Equity method investments

Ownership interests accounted for under the equity method (as a percent)

5.00%

5.00%

5.00%

25.00%

25.00%

34.00%

34.00%

Number of properties accounted for under equity method

53

55

Number of real estate properties

2

Purchase of joint venture interests

55,200,000

Gain on re-measurement of equity method investments

$1,300,000

INTANGIBLES_Details

INTANGIBLES (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Intangible assets:
Accumulated amortization	($434,876)	($352,692)
Net intangible assets	1,067,074	1,152,842
Remaining weighted average amortization period	19 years 6 months	19 years 3 months 18 days
Intangible liabilities:
Accumulated amortization	-108,706	-78,560
Purchase option intangibles	29,294	36,048
Net intangible liabilities	380,484	416,361
Remaining weighted average amortization period	15 years	15 years 3 months 18 days
Above market lease intangibles
Intangible assets:
Intangibles	215,490	215,367
Remaining weighted average amortization period	8 years 4 months 24 days	9 years 6 months
In-place and other lease intangibles
Intangible assets:
Intangibles	796,673	766,337
Remaining weighted average amortization period	23 years 8 months 12 days	23 years 3 months 18 days
Goodwill And Other Intangibles [Member]
Intangible assets:
Intangibles	489,787	523,830
Remaining weighted average amortization period	8 years 7 months 6 days	8 years 7 months 6 days
Below Market Lease [Domain]
Intangible liabilities:
Lease intangibles	429,309	429,907
Remaining weighted average amortization period	14 years 8 months 12 days	15 years 3 months 18 days
Other lease intangibles
Intangible liabilities:
Lease intangibles	$30,587	$28,966
Remaining weighted average amortization period	24 years	15 years 9 months 18 days

OTHER_ASSETS_Details

OTHER ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Straight-line rent receivables, net	$141,488	$120,325
Unsecured loans receivable, net	38,238	62,118
Goodwill and other intangibles, net	477,983	515,429
Assets held for sale	135,098	111,556
Other	211,074	112,257
Total other assets	$1,003,881	$921,685

SENIOR_NOTES_PAYABLE_AND_OTHER2

SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt instruments
Total	$9,359,018		$8,186,315
Capital lease obligations	0		142,412
Unamortized fair value adjustment	80,320		111,623
Unamortized discounts	-26,020		-26,704
Senior notes payable and other debt	9,413,318		8,413,646
Unsecured revolving credit facilities
Debt instruments
Total	447,970		540,727
6.25% Senior Notes due 2013
Debt instruments
Total	0		269,850
Interest rate (as a percent)		6.25%	6.25%
Unsecured term loan due 2015
Debt instruments
Total	125,739		130,336
3.125% Senior Notes due 2015
Debt instruments
Total	400,000		400,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.13%		3.13%
6% Senior Notes due 2015
Debt instruments
Total	234,420		234,420
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%		6.00%
One Point Five Five Percent Senior Notes, Due 2016 [Member]
Debt instruments
Total	550,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	1.55%
Unsecured term loan due 2017
Debt instruments
Total	375,000		375,000
Unsecured term loan due 2018
Debt instruments
Total	180,000		180,000
2.00% Senior Notes due 2018
Debt instruments
Total	700,000		700,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.00%		2.00%
4.00% senior notes due 2019
Debt instruments
Total	600,000		600,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.00%		4.00%
2.700% Senior Notes due 2020
Debt instruments
Total	500,000		0
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.70%
4.750% Senior Notes due 2021
Debt instruments
Total	700,000		700,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.75%		4.75%
4.25% senior notes due 2022
Debt instruments
Total	600,000		600,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.25%		4.25%
3.25% senior notes due 2022
Debt instruments
Total	500,000		500,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.25%		3.25%
6.90% Senior Notes due 2037
Debt instruments
Total	52,400		52,400
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.90%		6.90%
6.59% Senior Notes due 2038
Debt instruments
Total	22,973		22,973
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.59%		6.59%
5.45% Senior Notes due 2043
Debt instruments
Total	258,750		0
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.45%
Mortgage loans and other
Debt instruments
Total	2,811,766		2,880,609
Unsecured term loan
Debt instruments
Total	$500,000

SENIOR_NOTES_PAYABLE_AND_OTHER3

SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT (Details 2) (USD $)	1 Months Ended					9 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
						Unsecured revolving credit facilities	Unsecured revolving credit facilities	Mortgage loans and other	Mortgage loans and other	Mortgage loans and other	6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	6.90% Senior Notes due 2037	6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	6.59% Senior Notes due 2038	Principal Amount Due at Maturity	Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility	Scheduled Periodic Amortization
										Subsequent Event
Scheduled maturities of borrowing arrangements and other provisions excluding capital lease obligations
2013		$90,813,000													$77,497,000	$0	$13,316,000
2014		322,943,000													273,050,000	0	49,893,000
2015		1,546,514,000													1,057,536,000	447,970,000	41,008,000
2016		994,917,000													960,917,000	0	34,000,000
2017		949,337,000													927,243,000	0	22,094,000
Thereafter		5,454,494,000													5,292,084,000	0	162,410,000
Total		9,359,018,000	8,186,315,000			447,970,000	540,727,000	2,811,766,000	2,880,609,000		52,400,000	52,400,000	22,973,000	22,973,000	8,588,327,000	447,970,000	322,721,000
Interest rate (as a percent)											6.90%	6.90%	6.59%	6.59%
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents		54,672,000	67,908,000	58,530,000	45,807,000
Amount outstanding, net of cash and cash equivalents						393,300,000
Line of credit facility optional extension period						1 year
Repayments of Debt	$40,900,000									$40,900,000

SENIOR_NOTES_PAYABLE_AND_OTHER4

SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Unsecured revolving credit facility
Debt instruments
Current borrowing capacity	2,000,000,000	2,000,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity	2,500,000,000	2,500,000,000
Percentage of line of credit facility for negotiated rate loans		50.00%
Facility fee (as a percent)		0.18%
Line of credit facility optional extension period		1 year
Amount outstanding	448,000,000	448,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding	14,900,000	14,900,000
Remaining borrowing capacity	1,540,000,000	1,540,000,000
Unsecured revolving credit facility | Minimum
Debt instruments
Facility fee (as a percent)		0.15%
Unsecured revolving credit facility | Maximum
Debt instruments
Facility fee (as a percent)		0.45%
Letters of credit
Debt instruments
Maximum borrowing capacity	200,000,000	200,000,000
Swingline loans
Debt instruments
Maximum borrowing capacity	200,000,000	200,000,000
Alternative currency loans
Debt instruments
Maximum borrowing capacity	250,000,000	250,000,000
Base rate loans
Debt instruments
Percentage of interest rate	0.10%	0.10%
Base rate loans | LIBOR
Debt instruments
Variable interest rate, basis		LIBOR
Variable interest rate, basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Base rate loans | Federal funds rate
Debt instruments
Variable interest rate, basis		federal funds rate
Variable interest rate, basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Eurocurrency rate loans
Debt instruments
Percentage of interest rate	1.10%	1.10%

SENIOR_NOTES_PAYABLE_AND_OTHER5

SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT (Details 4) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Feb. 28, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

6.25% Senior Notes due 2013

6.25% Senior Notes due 2013

5.45% Senior Notes due 2043

5.45% Senior Notes due 2043

2.700% Senior Notes due 2020

2.700% Senior Notes due 2020

One Point Five Five Percent Senior Notes, Due 2016 [Member]

One Point Five Five Percent Senior Notes, Due 2016 [Member]

Five Point Seven Zero Percent Senior Notes, Due 2043 [Member]

Five Point Seven Zero Percent Senior Notes, Due 2043 [Member]

Debt instruments

Repayments of senior debt

$269,900,000

Proceeds from debt

1,766,844,000

1,568,382,000

258,800,000

500,000,000

550,000,000

300,000,000

Interest rate (as a percent)

6.25%

6.25%

5.45%

2.70%

1.55%

5.70%

Public Offering Price as a Percent of Par

99.94%

99.91%

99.63%

Proceeds from issuance of debt

$258,800,000

$499,700,000

$549,500,000

$298,900,000

SENIOR_NOTES_PAYABLE_AND_OTHER6

SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT (Details 5) (USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
		community
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of communities under capital lease		8
Acquisition of facilities on capital lease	$145

FAIR_VALUES_OF_FINANCIAL_INSTR2

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets:
Secured loans receivable and investments, net	$400,889	$635,002
Unsecured loans receivable, net	38,238	62,118
Available-for-sale Securities	21,200
Liabilities:
Redeemable OP unitholder interests	111,700	114,900
Carrying Amount
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	54,672	67,908
Secured loans receivable and investments, net	379,727	635,002
Unsecured loans receivable, net	38,238	62,118
Marketable Securities	21,162	5,400
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt, gross	9,359,018	8,186,315
Derivative instruments and other liabilities	16,360	45,966
Redeemable OP unitholder interests	111,697	114,933
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	54,672	67,908
Secured loans receivable and investments, net	388,780	636,714
Unsecured loans receivable, net	40,762	65,146
Available-for-sale Securities	21,162	5,400
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt, gross	9,471,240	8,600,450
Derivative instruments and other liabilities	16,360	45,966
Redeemable OP unitholder interests	$111,697	$114,933

INCOME_TAXES_Details

INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Income tax benefit	$2,780,000	$8,886,000	$13,100,000	$2,727,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	$248,500,000		$248,500,000		$257,000,000

STOCKHOLDERS_EQUITY_Details

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]
At-the-market equity offering program, authorized amount		$750,000,000
At-the-market equity offering program, shares issued during period	450,410			1,503,505
At-the-market equity offering program, proceeds from sale of stock during period	27,900,000		23,700,000	106,100,000
At-the-market equity offering program, payments of stock issuance costs during period	400,000			1,600,000
At-the-market equity offering program, remaining authorized offering amount			642,300,000	642,300,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Foreign currency translation			20,293,000	20,293,000	23,441,000
Unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			-208,000	-208,000	807,000
Other			1,208,000	1,208,000	-894,000
Total accumulated other comprehensive income			$21,293,000	$21,293,000	$23,354,000

EARNINGS_PER_COMMON_SHARE_Deta

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$127,380	$115,606	$378,748	$206,472
Discontinued operations	-9,084	-3,724	-33,679	70,061
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$118,296	$111,882	$345,069	$276,533
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares	292,818	294,928	292,308	291,177
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options (in shares)	483	522	578	509
Restricted stock awards (in shares)	75	121	114	86
OP units (in shares)	1,814	1,836	1,788	1,850
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares	295,190	297,407	294,788	293,622
Basic earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$0.43	$0.39	$1.30	$0.71
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.03)	($0.01)	($0.12)	$0.24
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$0.40	$0.38	$1.18	$0.95
Diluted earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$0.43	$0.39	$1.28	$0.70
Discontinued operations	($0.03)	($0.01)	($0.11)	$0.24
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$0.40	$0.38	$1.17	$0.94

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Details

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
			segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable business segments			3
Revenues:
Rental income	$334,614	$308,186	$983,255	$867,828
Resident fees and services	359,112	316,560	1,039,876	905,190
Medical office building and other services revenue	4,146	4,544	11,331	16,791
Income from loans and investments	14,448	9,035	45,284	25,223
Interest and other income	66	330	1,901	442
Total revenues	712,386	638,655	2,081,647	1,815,474
Less:
Interest and other income	66	330	1,901	442
Property-level operating expenses	285,112	252,450	822,299	704,939
Medical office building services costs	1,651	1,487	4,957	8,314
Segment NOI	425,557	384,388	1,252,490	1,101,779
Income from unconsolidated entities	110	17,074	533	17,905
Segment profit	425,667	401,462	1,253,023	1,119,684
Interest and other income	66	330	1,901	442
Interest expense	-84,089	-74,037	-245,622	-214,028
Depreciation and amortization	-177,710	-188,540	-528,180	-534,792
General, administrative and professional fees	-28,659	-26,867	-84,760	-75,488
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	189	1,194	909	-38,339
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	-6,208	-4,917	-17,137	-49,566
Other	-4,353	-1,966	-13,325	-5,052
Income tax benefit	2,780	8,886	13,100	2,727
Discontinued operations	-9,084	-3,724	-33,679	70,061
Net income	118,599	111,821	346,230	275,649	361,775
Triple-Net Leased Properties
Revenues:
Rental income	219,170	207,372	645,719	613,939
Medical office building and other services revenue	1,116	1,110	3,342	3,329
Total revenues	220,286	208,482	649,061	617,268
Less:
Segment NOI	220,286	208,482	649,061	617,268
Income from unconsolidated entities	203	348	573	1,068
Segment profit	220,489	208,830	649,634	618,336
Senior Living Operations
Revenues:
Total revenues	359,112	316,560	1,039,876	905,190
Less:
Property-level operating expenses	244,316	216,306	706,561	618,471
Segment NOI	114,796	100,254	333,315	286,719
Income from unconsolidated entities	-32		-1,173
Segment profit	114,764	100,254	332,142	286,719
MOB Operations
Revenues:
Rental income	115,444	100,814	337,536	253,889
Medical office building and other services revenue	2,530	3,434	7,226	13,462
Total revenues	117,974	104,248	344,762	267,351
Less:
Property-level operating expenses	40,796	36,144	115,738	86,468
Medical office building services costs	1,651	1,487	4,957	8,314
Segment NOI	75,527	66,617	224,067	172,569
Income from unconsolidated entities	71	16,726	1,456	16,837
Segment profit	75,598	83,343	225,523	189,406
All Other
Revenues:
Medical office building and other services revenue	500		763
Income from loans and investments	14,448	9,035	45,284	25,223
Interest and other income	66	330	1,901	442
Total revenues	15,014	9,365	47,948	25,665
Less:
Interest and other income	66	330	1,901	442
Segment NOI	14,948	9,035	46,047	25,223
Income from unconsolidated entities	-132		-323
Segment profit	14,816	9,035	45,724	25,223
Interest and other income	$66	$330	$1,901	$442

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Details_2

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information
Resident fees and services	$359,112	$316,560	$1,039,876	$905,190
Capital expenditures
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	1,119,742	303,524	1,484,107	1,287,301
Triple-Net Leased Properties
Capital expenditures
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	793,594	25,535	838,598	39,415
Senior Living Operations
Capital expenditures
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	226,442	20,510	471,531	369,341
MOB Operations
Capital expenditures
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	$99,706	$257,479	$173,978	$878,545

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Details_3

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Total revenues	$712,386	$638,655	$2,081,647	$1,815,474
Net real estate property:
Total net real estate property	18,174,943		18,174,943		17,111,532
United States
Revenues:
Total revenues	689,062	614,310	2,011,491	1,743,899
Net real estate property:
Total net real estate property	17,794,819		17,794,819		16,711,508
Canada
Revenues:
Total revenues	23,324	24,345	70,156	71,575
Net real estate property:
Total net real estate property	$380,124		$380,124		$400,024

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_INFORM2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets
Net real estate investments	$18,667,363	$17,841,943
Cash and cash equivalents	54,672	67,908	58,530	45,807
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	98,200	105,913
Deferred financing costs, net	55,242	42,551
Investment in and advances to affiliates
Other assets	1,003,881	921,685
Total assets	19,879,358	18,980,000
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	9,413,318	8,413,646
Intercompany loans
Accrued interest	62,176	47,565
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,019,166	995,156
Deferred income taxes	248,369	259,715
Total liabilities	10,743,029	9,716,082
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	171,921	174,555
Total equity	8,964,408	9,089,363		9,355,944
Total liabilities and equity	19,879,358	18,980,000
Ventas, Inc.
Assets
Net real estate investments	7,161	7,615
Cash and cash equivalents	14,018	16,734	10,181	2,335
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	2,104	7,565
Deferred financing costs, net	758	757
Investment in and advances to affiliates	11,713,622	10,343,664
Other assets	49,187	26,282
Total assets	11,786,850	10,402,617
Liabilities:
Intercompany loans	5,299,822	3,425,082
Accounts payable and other liabilities	106,537	99,631
Deferred income taxes	248,369	259,715
Total liabilities	5,654,728	3,784,428
Total equity	6,132,122	6,618,189
Total liabilities and equity	11,786,850	10,402,617
Ventas Realty [Member] [Member]
Assets
Net real estate investments	387,869	412,362
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	1,635	1,952
Deferred financing costs, net	46,514	34,047
Investment in and advances to affiliates	1,867,250	1,867,250
Other assets	7,000	4,043
Total assets	2,310,268	2,319,654
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	6,089,730	4,570,296
Intercompany loans	-5,742,316	-4,126,391
Accrued interest	39,457	24,045
Accounts payable and other liabilities	11,038	7,775
Total liabilities	397,909	475,725
Total equity	1,912,359	1,843,929
Total liabilities and equity	2,310,268	2,319,654
Ventas Subsidiaries
Assets
Net real estate investments	18,272,333	17,421,966
Cash and cash equivalents	40,654	51,174	48,349	43,472
Escrow deposits and restricted cash	94,461	96,396
Deferred financing costs, net	7,970	7,747
Other assets	947,694	891,360
Total assets	19,363,112	18,468,643
Liabilities:
Senior notes payable and other debt	3,323,588	3,843,350
Intercompany loans	442,494	701,309
Accrued interest	22,719	23,520
Accounts payable and other liabilities	901,591	887,750
Total liabilities	4,690,392	5,455,929
Redeemable OP unitholder and noncontrolling interests	171,921	174,555
Total equity	14,500,799	12,838,159
Total liabilities and equity	19,363,112	18,468,643
Consolidated Eliminations
Assets
Investment in and advances to affiliates	-13,580,872	-12,210,914
Total assets	-13,580,872	-12,210,914
Liabilities:
Total equity	-13,580,872	-12,210,914
Total liabilities and equity	($13,580,872)	($12,210,914)

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_INFORM3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Rental income	$334,614	$308,186	$983,255	$867,828
Resident fees and services	359,112	316,560	1,039,876	905,190
Medical office building and other services revenues	4,146	4,544	11,331	16,791
Income from loans and investments	14,448	9,035	45,284	25,223
Equity earnings in affiliates			0	0
Interest and other income	66	330	1,901	442
Total revenues	712,386	638,655	2,081,647	1,815,474
Expenses:
Interest	84,089	74,037	245,622	214,028
Depreciation and amortization	177,710	188,540	528,180	534,792
Property-level operating expenses	285,112	252,450	822,299	704,939
Medical office building services costs	1,651	1,487	4,957	8,314
General, administrative and professional fees	28,659	26,867	84,760	75,488
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net	-189	-1,194	-909	38,339
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	6,208	4,917	17,137	49,566
Other	4,353	1,966	13,325	5,052
Total expenses	587,593	549,070	1,715,371	1,630,518
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	124,793	89,585	366,276	184,956
Income from unconsolidated entities	110	17,074	533	17,905
Income tax benefit	2,780	8,886	13,100	2,727
Income from continuing operations	127,683	115,545	379,909	205,588
Discontinued operations	-9,084	-3,724	-33,679	70,061
Net income	118,599	111,821	346,230	275,649	361,775
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	303	-61	1,161	-884
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	303	-61	1,161	-884
Net income attributable to common stockholders	118,296	111,882	345,069	276,533
Ventas, Inc.
Revenues:
Rental income	609	640	1,868	1,898
Resident fees and services			0	0
Medical office building and other services revenues			0	0
Income from loans and investments		951	1,262	2,841
Equity earnings in affiliates	118,136	115,319	339,339	228,099
Interest and other income	19	12	315	97
Total revenues	118,764	116,922	342,784	232,935
Expenses:
Interest	-512	-1,139	-1,453	-3,375
Depreciation and amortization	1,308	1,057	3,600	2,576
Property-level operating expenses			0	0
Medical office building services costs			0	0
General, administrative and professional fees	437	1,028	1,580	4,839
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net			0	0
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	2,038	12,552	9,013	42,605
Other	23	-5	316	-4
Total expenses	3,294	13,493	13,056	46,641
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	115,470	103,429	329,728	186,294
Income from unconsolidated entities			0	0
Income tax benefit	2,780	8,886	13,100	2,727
Income from continuing operations	118,250	112,315	342,828	189,021
Discontinued operations	46	-433	2,241	87,512
Net income	118,296	111,882	345,069	276,533
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	118,296	111,882	345,069	276,533
Ventas Realty [Member] [Member]
Revenues:
Rental income	69,894	69,262	209,933	205,601
Resident fees and services			0	0
Medical office building and other services revenues			0	0
Income from loans and investments	90	301	877	1,330
Equity earnings in affiliates			0	0
Interest and other income	10	10	21	20
Total revenues	69,994	69,573	210,831	206,951
Expenses:
Interest	36,703	23,295	105,180	68,227
Depreciation and amortization	7,912	7,484	23,068	28,242
Property-level operating expenses	153	128	396	369
Medical office building services costs			0	0
General, administrative and professional fees	5,375	8,092	16,161	22,204
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net		17	0	39,737
Merger-related expenses and deal costs			0	0
Other	17		38	0
Total expenses	50,160	39,016	144,843	158,779
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	19,834	30,557	65,988	48,172
Income from unconsolidated entities	272	429	776	1,260
Income tax benefit			0	0
Income from continuing operations	20,106	30,986	66,764	49,432
Discontinued operations	80	857	702	4,300
Net income	20,186	31,843	67,466	53,732
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	20,186	31,843	67,466	53,732
Ventas Subsidiaries
Revenues:
Rental income	264,111	238,284	771,454	660,329
Resident fees and services	359,112	316,560	1,039,876	905,190
Medical office building and other services revenues	4,146	4,544	11,331	16,791
Income from loans and investments	14,358	7,783	43,145	21,052
Equity earnings in affiliates	202	318	675	537
Interest and other income	37	308	1,565	325
Total revenues	641,966	567,797	1,868,046	1,604,224
Expenses:
Interest	47,898	51,881	141,895	149,176
Depreciation and amortization	168,490	179,999	501,512	503,974
Property-level operating expenses	284,959	252,322	821,903	704,570
Medical office building services costs	1,651	1,487	4,957	8,314
General, administrative and professional fees	22,847	17,747	67,019	48,445
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net	-189	-1,211	-909	-1,398
Merger-related expenses and deal costs	4,170	-7,635	8,124	6,961
Other	4,313	1,971	12,971	5,056
Total expenses	534,139	496,561	1,557,472	1,425,098
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	107,827	71,236	310,574	179,126
Income from unconsolidated entities	-162	16,645	-243	16,645
Income tax benefit			0	0
Income from continuing operations	107,665	87,881	310,331	195,771
Discontinued operations	-9,210	-4,148	-36,622	-21,751
Net income	98,455	83,733	273,709	174,020
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	-303	61	1,161	-884
Net income attributable to common stockholders	98,152	83,794	272,548	174,904
Consolidated Eliminations
Revenues:
Rental income			0	0
Resident fees and services			0	0
Medical office building and other services revenues			0	0
Income from loans and investments			0	0
Equity earnings in affiliates	-118,338	-115,637	-340,014	-228,636
Interest and other income			0	0
Total revenues	-118,338	-115,637	-340,014	-228,636
Expenses:
Interest			0	0
Depreciation and amortization			0	0
Property-level operating expenses			0	0
Medical office building services costs			0	0
General, administrative and professional fees			0	0
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net			0	0
Merger-related expenses and deal costs			0	0
Other			0	0
Total expenses			0	0
Income before income from unconsolidated entities, income taxes, discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest	-118,338	-115,637	-340,014	-228,636
Income from unconsolidated entities			0	0
Income tax benefit			0	0
Income from continuing operations	-118,338	-115,637	-340,014	-228,636
Discontinued operations			0	0
Net income	-118,338	-115,637	-340,014	-228,636
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	-118,338	-115,637	-340,014	-228,636
All Other
Revenues:
Medical office building and other services revenues	500		763
Income from loans and investments	14,448	9,035	45,284	25,223
Interest and other income	66	330	1,901	442
Total revenues	15,014	9,365	47,948	25,665
Expenses:
Income from unconsolidated entities	($132)		($323)

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_INFORM4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	$118,599	$111,821	$346,230	$275,649	$361,775
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	1,665	2,838	-3,148	3,180
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	-208	-509	-1,015	-1,220
Other	84	-107	2,102	-396
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,541	2,222	-2,061	1,564	1,292
Comprehensive income	120,140	114,043	344,169	277,213
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	303	-61	1,161	-884
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	119,837	114,104	343,008	278,097
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	118,296	111,882	345,069	276,533
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities	-208	-509
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	-208	-509	-1,015	-1,220
Comprehensive income	118,088	111,373	344,054	275,313
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	118,088	111,373	344,054	275,313
Ventas Realty [Member] [Member]
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	20,186	31,843	67,466	53,732
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Comprehensive income	20,186	31,843	67,466	53,732
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	20,186	31,843	67,466	53,732
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	98,455	83,733	273,709	174,020
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	1,665	2,838
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other	84	-107	2,102	-396
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,749	2,731	-1,046	2,784
Comprehensive income	100,204	86,464	272,663	176,804
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	-303	61	1,161	-884
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	99,901	86,525	271,502	177,688
Consolidated Eliminations
Condensed financial statements, captions
Net income	-118,338	-115,637	-340,014	-228,636
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			0	0
Change in unrealized gain on marketable debt securities			0	0
Other			0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Comprehensive income	-118,338	-115,637	-340,014	-228,636
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	($118,338)	($115,637)	($340,014)	($228,636)

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATING_INFORM5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING INFORMATION (unaudited) (Details 4) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$835,429	$709,319
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,178,101	-1,213,906
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility	-92,586	248,921
Proceeds from debt	1,766,844	1,568,382
Repayment of debt	-840,532	-1,103,000
Net change in intercompany debt
Payment of deferred financing costs	-19,977	-4,257
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates
Issuance of common stock, net	106,002	342,469
Cash distribution to common stockholders	-588,770	-545,240
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	-3,479	-3,358
Purchases of redeemable OP units	-317	-1,760
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests	-2,094	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	-7,614	-4,035
Other	7,830	19,130
Net cash provided by financing activities	329,495	517,252
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	-13,177	12,665
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	-59	58
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	67,908	45,807	58,530
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	54,672		58,530
Ventas, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	-11,070	-5,543
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,338,064	-1,114,598
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt	-11,420
Net change in intercompany debt	1,874,740	1,329,833
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	-38,168	-13,087
Issuance of common stock, net	106,002	342,469
Cash distribution to common stockholders	-588,770	-545,240
Cash distribution to redeemable OP unitholders	-3,479	-3,358
Purchases of redeemable OP units	-317	-1,760
Other	7,830	19,130
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,346,418	1,127,987
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	-2,716	7,846
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16,734	2,335	10,181
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	14,018		10,181
Ventas Realty [Member] [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	114,924	156,211
Net cash used in investing activities	-3,492	-113
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility	-90,000	255,500
Proceeds from debt	1,606,849	1,255,105
Repayment of debt		-521,527
Net change in intercompany debt	-1,615,925	-1,050,117
Payment of deferred financing costs	-18,291	-3,395
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	5,994	-91,722
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	-111,373	-156,156
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	59	-58
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents	-59	58
Ventas Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	731,575	558,651
Net cash used in investing activities	163,455	-99,195
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in borrowings under revolving credit facility	-2,586	-6,579
Proceeds from debt	159,995	313,277
Repayment of debt	-829,112	-581,473
Net change in intercompany debt	-258,815	-279,716
Payment of deferred financing costs	-1,686	-862
Cash distribution (to) from affiliates	32,174	104,809
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests	-2,094
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	-7,614	-4,035
Net cash provided by financing activities	-905,550	-454,579
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	-10,520	4,877
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	51,174	43,472	48,349
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	40,654		48,349
Consolidated Eliminations
Cash flows from financing activities:
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests	$0