DISPOSITIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 2012 Dispositions	Jun. 30, 2012 2012 Dispositions Seniors housing communities property	Feb. 29, 2012 2012 Dispositions Seniors housing communities property	Sep. 30, 2012 2012 Dispositions Seniors housing communities	Sep. 30, 2012 2012 Dispositions Seniors housing communities property	Sep. 30, 2012 2012 Dispositions Skilled nursing facilities property	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Dispositions	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Dispositions Seniors housing communities property	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Dispositions Skilled nursing facilities property
Results of operations for all assets held-for-sale or disposed
Number of real estate properties sold								13	9		1	2		2	2
Number of operating leases not renewed								2
Proceeds from sale of real estate properties							$ 28,500,000	$ 121,900,000	$ 121,300,000				$ 20,600,000
Lease termination fees								3,000,000	1,800,000
Exchange escrow proceeds used for acquisitions					76,400,000	58,100,000		97,000,000
Gain (loss) from sale of assets										(2,700,000)	76,100,000
Properties classified as held for sale											22
Revenues:
Rental income	3,826,000	8,509,000	17,377,000	16,470,000
Resident fees and services	0	2,070,000	4,081,000	3,245,000
Interest and other income	1,127,000	0	5,952,000	0
Total Revenues	4,953,000	10,579,000	27,410,000	19,715,000
Expenses:
Interest	1,371,000	4,238,000	6,950,000	7,698,000
Depreciation and amortization	6,714,000	4,434,000	24,081,000	6,878,000
Property-level operating expenses	651,000	1,734,000	4,709,000	2,579,000
General, administrative and professional fees	5,000	0	11,000	0
Other	0	554,000	1,230,000	837,000
Total expenses	8,741,000	10,960,000	36,981,000	17,992,000
(Loss) income before income taxes and gain on sale of real estate assets	(3,788,000)	(381,000)	(9,571,000)	1,723,000
Income tax (expense) benefit	(16,000)	172,000	4,000	271,000
(Loss) gain on real estate dispositions, net	357,000	0	79,148,000	0
Discontinued operations	$ (3,447,000)	$ (209,000)	$ 69,581,000	$ 1,994,000