Real Estate (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 properties	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Legend Healthcare [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Legend Healthcare [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 National Healthcare Corporation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 National Healthcare Corporation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Bickford Senior Living [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Current year [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Current year [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Final determination based on prior year revenues [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Final determination based on prior year revenues [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Bickford Commitment [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Acquisition Legend Healthcare [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Acquisition Bickford Senior Living [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] National Healthcare Corporation [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Assisted Living Facility [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Independent Living Facility [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Living Campus [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Skilled Nursing Facility [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Medical Office Building [Member] properties	Mar. 31, 2013 Hospital [Member] properties
Number of Real Estate Properties	107								5	10						4	2	6	39	3	5	55	2	3
Real Estate Investment Property, Nonportfolio Assets	$ 710,000
Number of States in which Entity Operates	23
Real Estate Investment Property, Portfolio Assets	699,998,000
Number of Lessees	18
Revenues	28,071,000	24,058,000
Maximum Commitment For All Active Development Projects										27,000,000					27,000,000
Construction and Development Costs										5,479,000
Real Estate, Assets Held For Sale, Sales Price																		21,000,000
Depreciation, Continuing Operations	4,415,000	3,264,000
Joint Venture Operating Company Ownership Interest Received										85.00%
Percentage Rent Rate						0.04
Operating Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue	25,050,000	21,296,000				8,947,000	9,012,000	1,223,000		2,081,000
Percentage of Continuing Revenue						32.00%	37.00%			7.00%
Percentage rent	1,437,000	1,478,000									620,000	415,000	817,000	1,063,000
Lease Extension Period in Years									3
Significant acquisitions and disposals, acquisition costs or sale proceeds																55,278,000
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Potential Cash Payment					3,256,000
Net income attributable to common stockholders	15,743,000	18,350,000
Joint Venture Contributed Properties Ownership Interest Retained										85.00%
Initial Lease Amount																	7,750,000
Initial lease rate																	9.00%
Lease Escalator Rate																	3.00%
Assets held for sale, net	1,611,000		1,611,000
Joint Venture Contributed Properties Ownership Interest Surrendered										15.00%
Cash Paid In Settlement Of Contingent Purchase Consideration Liability				$ 2,222,000
Number Of Development Projects Active										3