Loans Receivable (Details)			9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended							9 Months Ended							0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Brookdale Senior Living USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2014 RIDEA JV Brookdale Senior Living	Aug. 29, 2014 RIDEA JV Brookdale Senior Living USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Performing DFLs USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Workout Loans USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Real Estate Secured USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Real Estate Secured USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Real Estate Secured Performing DFLs USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Secured USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Secured USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Secured Performing DFLs USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Secured Workout Loans USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 Tandem Health Care Loan USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2013 Tandem Health Care Loan Maximum USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2013 Tandem Health Care Loan - First Tranche USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2012 Tandem Health Care Loan - First Tranche Maximum	Jun. 30, 2013 Tandem Health Care Loan - Second Tranche	Sep. 30, 2014 Delphis USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Delphis USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Delphis USD ($)	Sep. 06, 2013 Barchester Loan USD ($)	Sep. 06, 2013 Barchester Loan GBP (£)	Aug. 23, 2013 Barchester Loan USD ($)	Aug. 23, 2013 Barchester Loan GBP (£)	May 02, 2013 Barchester Loan USD ($) item	May 02, 2013 Barchester Loan GBP (£)
Loans Receivable
Mezzanine	$ 301,494,000	$ 234,455,000									$ 301,494,000	$ 234,455,000
Loan receivable, other	133,406,000	147,669,000						133,406,000	147,669,000							205,000,000	100,000,000
Unamortized discounts, fees and costs	(2,689,000)	(2,713,000)									(2,689,000)	(2,713,000)
Allowance for loan losses	(13,410,000)	(13,410,000)									(13,410,000)									(13,410,000)
Loans receivable, net	418,801,000	366,001,000	30,100,000			401,331,000	17,470,000	133,406,000	147,669,000	133,406,000	285,395,000	218,332,000	267,925,000	17,470,000
Construction loans outstanding related to senior housing development projects											133,000,000	117,000,000
Remaining commitments to fund development projects											13,000,000
Percentage of Loan Portfolio	100.00%							32.00%			68.00%
Consideration received - Note receivable					68,000,000
Initial interest rate (as a percentage)					7.00%
Initial interest rate period (in years)				2 years
Subsequent interest rate (as a percentage)					7.65%
Loans receivable purchased, face or par value																											188,000,000	121,000,000
Loans receivable purchased, discount																									8,000,000	5,000,000	170,000,000	109,000,000
Number of facilities																											160	160
Cost of loan receivable purchased																									14,000,000	9,000,000
Debt instrument, weighted-average basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)																											3.14%	3.14%
Proceeds from borrower																				600,000	1,500,000		202,000,000	129,000,000
Interest income related to loans																							24,000,000
Loan receivable subordinated to senior mortgage debt															440,000,000
Loans receivable, net reported amount																				17,500,000		18,100,000
Loan receivable, interest rate payable (as a percent)																	12.00%		14.00%
Loan receivable term			5 years															63 years
Reconciliation of beginning and ending allowance
Balance at the beginning	13,410,000	13,410,000									13,410,000									13,410,000
Balance at the end	$ 13,410,000	$ 13,410,000									$ 13,410,000									$ 13,410,000