Note 7 - Marketable Securities and Restricted Marketable Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity Securities [Member]
NHI Common Stock, Cost	$ 30,176	$ 30,176
NHI Common Stock, Fair Value	116,168	132,535
Available-for-sale Securities	116,168	132,535
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Amortized Cost	71,960	68,594
Fair Value	71,143	68,916
Available-for-sale Securities	71,143	68,916
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Amortized Cost	61,645	63,351
Fair Value	60,910	63,252
Available-for-sale Securities	60,910	63,252
US Government Corporations and Agencies Securities [Member]
Amortized Cost	21,123	14,623
Fair Value	21,033	14,728
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]
Amortized Cost	16,446	11,074
Fair Value	16,780	11,377
Available-for-sale Securities	16,780	11,377
Amortized Cost	171,174	157,642
Total amortized cost	201,350	187,818
Available-for-sale Securities	$ 286,034	$ 290,808

This item represents the cost of debt securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (aa)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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This item represents the cost of equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2)
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Amount of investments in equity securities and other forms of securities that provide ownership interests classified as available-for-sale, expected to be converted to cash, sold or exchanged within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Total debt and equity financial instruments including: (1) securities held-to-maturity, (2) trading securities, and (3) securities available-for-sale that are pledged to one or more secured parties who have the right to buy, sell, or re-pledge the collateral.

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-Publisher FASB
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(b))
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