Asset Purchase Transaction Costs

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_AssetPurchaseTransactionCosts
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of years involved in a lease extension period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LeaseExtensionPeriodinYears
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the agreed selling price of a property or group of properties the entity has classified as held for sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_RealEstateAssetsHeldForSaleSalesPrice
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of sales or other form of revenues attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of gain (loss) on sale of properties during the reporting period net of the applicable income taxes realized.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 15

-Paragraph a

-Subparagraph 1(ii)

-Article 3

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 974

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-15.(a)(1)(ii))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6875705&loc=d3e641549-123027

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertiesNetOfApplicableIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013 properties	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 properties	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 National Healthcare Corporation [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2012 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] Sunrise Senior Living [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] National Healthcare Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] National Healthcare Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] National Healthcare Corporation [Member]	Aug. 30, 2013 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] National Healthcare Corporation [Member] properties
Rental income	$ 562,000	$ 1,169,000	$ 2,321,000	$ 3,572,000		$ 1,029,000		$ 2,321,000	$ 2,543,000
Number of Real Estate Properties	135		135		42					6
Real Estate, Assets Held For Sale, Sales Price										21,000,000
Lease Extension Period in Years			10 years 0 months 0 days		5 years 0 months 0 days
Gain on sale of real estate	19,370,000	0	19,370,000	0			19,370,000
Asset Purchase Transaction Costs								$ 19,000