Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Rental income	$ 336,455,000	$ 292,643,000
Resident fees and services	456,265,000	327,324,000
Interest income	8,594,000	9,057,000
Other income	493,000	700,000
Total revenues	801,807,000	629,724,000
Expenses:
Interest expense	120,833,000	108,838,000
Property operating expenses	341,431,000	252,823,000
Depreciation and amortization	233,318,000	184,688,000
General and administrative	32,865,000	27,179,000
Transaction costs	952,000	65,980,000
Loss (gain) on derivatives, net	0	2,309,000
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net	(148,000)	(308,000)
Total expenses	729,251,000	641,509,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and income from unconsolidated entities	72,556,000	(11,785,000)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(2,260,000)	(2,763,000)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities	(5,556,000)	2,262,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	64,740,000	(12,286,000)
Discontinued operations:
Gain (loss) on sales of properties, net	0	82,492,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net	460,000	1,593,000
Discontinued operations, net	460,000	84,085,000
Net income	65,200,000	71,799,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends	16,353,000	16,602,000
Less: Preferred stock redemption charge	0	0
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,175,000)	139,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ 50,022,000	$ 55,058,000
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	289,606	260,036
Diluted	290,917	260,036
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.17	$ (0.11)
Discontinued operations, net	$ 0	$ 0.32
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.17	$ 0.21
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.17	$ (0.11)
Discontinued operations, net	$ 0	$ 0.32
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.17	$ 0.21
Dividends declared and paid per common share	$ 0.795	$ 0.765