Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended									1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended												1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2009	Feb. 28, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 properties	Dec. 31, 2010 properties	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008	Dec. 31, 2009 Non-Operating Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Operating Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Operating Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 National HealthCare Corporation [Member] properties	Jan. 31, 2011 Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Legend Healthcare [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Legend Healthcare [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Legend Healthcare [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 Current Tenant of 2 MOB's [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Current Tenant of 2 MOB's [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Current Tenant of 2 MOB's [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Current Tenant of 2 MOB's [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 ALF in Daytona [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 ALF in Daytona [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 ALF in Daytona [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 ALF in Daytona [Member]	Nov. 30, 2008 Disposal [Member] properties	Dec. 31, 2004 Disposal [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Disposal [Member] Legend Healthcare [Member] properties	Feb. 28, 2011 Disposal [Member] Current Tenant of 2 MOB's [Member] properties	Dec. 31, 2010 Disposal [Member] Current Tenant of 2 MOB's [Member] properties	Aug. 31, 2011 Disposal [Member] ALF in Daytona [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] properties	Dec. 31, 2009 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] properties	Dec. 31, 2009 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings [Member] properties	Jan. 31, 2009 Settlement of a terminated lease [Member] Non-Operating Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Real Estate Impairment [Member] properties	Dec. 31, 2009 Cancellation of liabilities [Member] Non-Operating Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Facility Operating Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Facility Operating Expense [Member]
Number of Real Estate Properties			97	88							41																1	2	2	2	2		5	6	6		2
Revenues			$ 5,063	$ 5,847	$ 6,428								$ 4,820	$ 4,792	$ 5,000		$ 107	$ 480		$ 41	$ 584	$ 584		$ 202	$ 364	$ 364
Gain loss on sale of properties net of applicable income Taxes			3,348	2,004								462				2,004			1,838				1,048
Number of Units in Real Estate Property																																60
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax			5,024	5,577	7,168		2,136	5,024	5,577	5,032																										642		1,493
Impairment of real estate assets in discontinued operations		25			25	1,986
Estimated fair value of impaired long-lived assets						200
Proceeds from disposition of real estate properties	175		8,971	6,247	175
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expense			$ 39	$ 270	$ 1,396																																		$ (14)	$ 26