Investment In Preferred Stock, At Cost (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 1998
Investment In Preferred Stock, At Cost [Abstract]
Investment in cumulative preferred stock of LTC properties			2,000,000
Nonvoting convertible preferred stock	2,000,000
Closing price of LTC's common stock	$ 25.32
Convertible preferred stock coupon rate	8.50%
Liquidation preference per share	$ 19.25
Original cost of cost method investments	$ 38,132,000	$ 38,132,000

The per share liquidation preference (or restrictions) of nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) that has a preference in involuntary liquidation considerably in excess of the par or stated value of the shares. The liquidation preference is the difference between the preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the share.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29

-Article 5

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph d

-Article 4

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 4, 6

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant