Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 325,321,000	$ 325,321,000
Adjustment	(140,000)	(142,000)
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(215,628,000)	(215,486,000)
Net	109,553,000	109,693,000
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	329,743,000	325,671,000
Accumulated Amortization	(175,607,000)	(154,330,000)
Net	154,136,000	171,341,000
Amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets	21,300,000	34,800,000	35,200,000
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2012	3,698,000
2013	3,698,000
2014	3,698,000
2015	3,698,000
2016	3,698,000
Thereafter	111,554,000
Total	130,044,000
Community purchase options [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	147,610,000	147,782,000
Accumulated Amortization	(17,566,000)	(13,867,000)
Net	130,044,000	133,915,000
Management contracts and other [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	158,041,000	158,041,000
Accumulated Amortization	(158,041,000)	(140,463,000)
Net	0	17,578,000
Home health licenses [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	24,092,000	19,848,000
Accumulated Amortization	0	0
Net	24,092,000	19,848,000
CCRCs [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	214,999,000	214,999,000
Adjustment	0	0
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(214,999,000)	(214,999,000)
Net	0	0
Retirement Centers [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	7,642,000	7,642,000
Adjustment	(34,000)	0
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(487,000)	(487,000)
Net	7,121,000	7,155,000
Assisted Living [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	102,680,000	102,680,000
Adjustment	(106,000)	(142,000)
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(142,000)	0
Net	$ 102,432,000	$ 102,538,000