This item represents the average age of a portfolio of facilities

Name:	nhi_AverageAgeOfFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the carrying value of assets sold.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_CarryingValueOfAssetsSold
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The initial rate charged under a lease entered into in connection with the purchase of a property.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_InitialLeaseRate
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The date upon which a lease or a group of leases is set to expire.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LeaseExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Lease renewal period in years

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LeaseRenewalPeriodInYears
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Additional Lease Renewal Options

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NumberOfAdditionalLeaseRenewalOptions
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of beds in a real estate property.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NumberOfBedsInRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of facilities or properties sold during the given period.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NumberOfFacilitiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the number of years in an initial lease term.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NumberOfYearsInInitialLeaseTerm
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the percent of NHI's total rental income recognized from tenants.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_PercentOfRentalIncomeRecognizedFromTenants
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The value of consideration committed by the Entity for the development and subsequent lease of a healthcare facility.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_SignificantDevelopmentAndLeaseTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the year the construction of a facility was completed.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_YearBuilt
Namespace Prefix:	nhi
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the sum of the carrying value of all the Assets Held-for-Sale at the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 47

-Subparagraph a

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount at the balance sheet date of long-lived asset under construction that include construction costs to date on capital projects that have not been completed and assets being constructed that are not ready to be placed into service.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph b

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesIncomeStatementLeaseRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of lease revenue recognized for the period for which the lessee was obligated under leasing arrangements regardless of any other events or conditions. This amount excludes contingent revenue and sublease revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph b

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesIncomeStatementMinimumLeaseRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the rental revenue earned during the period from lessee-operators based on revenues generated in their operations, generally in excess of a base amount. Such rental revenue is generally stipulated in the lease agreement, usually will provide for a fixed percentage of revenue to be paid as additional (or possibly only) rent due the lessor, and may be based on gross revenues, net revenues, or multiple variations thereof. Percentage rent is often required under leases with retail outlets located on premises owned by hoteliers, cruise lines, others in the hospitality industry, and shopping mall operators, among others.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 23

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PercentageRent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The yearly payments due under the lease entered into in connection with the transaction involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph d

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 98

-Paragraph 17

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleLeasebackTransactionAnnualRentalPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Real Estate (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				1 Months Ended									9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
Real Estate (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011 years properties	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 years properties	Sep. 30, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	May 31, 2011 Acquisition Selah Management Group [Member] years properties	Sep. 30, 2011 Acquisition Senior Living Management [Member] years	Sep. 30, 2011 Polaris Hospital Company [Member] years	Aug. 31, 2011 Disposal [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 Disposal [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Disposal [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Disposal [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2011 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] properties	Dec. 31, 2009 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2011 Final determination based on prior year revenues [Member] National HealthCare Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Final determination based on prior year revenues [Member] National HealthCare Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Subleased Facilities [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2011 National HealthCare Corporation [Member] properties years	Sep. 30, 2010 National HealthCare Corporation [Member]
Number of health care real estate projects	93		93		4		4						2	5	6			4	41
Lease expiration date																			December 31, 2021
Number of additional lease renewal options																			3
Term of the lease renewal option period in years																			5
Rental income	$ 18,765,000	$ 17,850,000	$ 56,259,000	$ 53,355,000															$ 27,156,000	$ 26,530,000
Percentage rent																635,000	485,000		1,881,000	1,255,000
Percent of rental income recognized from tenants																			48.30%	49.70%
Base rent revenue																			25,275,000	25,275,000
Significant acquisitions and disposals, acquisition costs or sale proceeds					49,800,000		15,000,000	5,400,000		3,200,000	5,271,000	4,500,000
Significant development and lease transactions					5,478,000				21,500,000
Number of units in real estate property							183	60		60
Number of beds in real estate property					498				60
Average age of facilities					2		13
Year Built								1998
Number of years in initial lease term					15		15	9	15
Initial lease amount							1,275,000
Initial Lease Rate					9.00%			8.50%	10.00%
land and pre-construction costs	3,922,000		3,922,000
Construction in progress	3,922,000		3,922,000
Assets held for sale, net	29,381,000		29,381,000			36,853,000
Carrying value of assets sold										$ 2,152,000		$ 4,039,000	$ 3,433,000
Number of facilities sold													2