Real Property Acquisitions and Development (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 properties		Sep. 30, 2011
Seniors Housing Facilities Operating [Member]
Real Property Acquisitions and Development (Textual) [Abstract]
Properties	53
Seniors Housing Facilities Triple Net [Member]
Real Property Acquisitions and Development (Textual) [Abstract]
Properties	49
Hospital Facilities [Member]
Real Property Acquisitions and Development (Textual) [Abstract]
Properties	1
Medical facilities [Member]
Real Property Acquisitions and Development (Textual) [Abstract]
Properties	22
Total purchase price	$ 486,014
Allocated on preliminary basis to land and land improvements	53,493	[1]	7,711
Allocated on preliminary basis to buildings and improvements	487,255	[1]	303,848
Receivables and other assets	$ 4,311	[1]	$ 0
Land parcels [Member]
Real Property Acquisitions and Development (Textual) [Abstract]
Properties	1

[1] (2) Includes acquisitions with an aggregate purchase price of $486,014,000 for which the allocation of the purchase price consideration is preliminary and subject to change.