Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Bickford As of September 30, 2014, our subsidiary PropCo had purchased land and begun construction on one assisted living/memory care facility having a maximum cost of $9,000,000. Our costs incurred to date, including land, were $6,990,000. The facility is expected to open in November 2014. In February 2014 we entered into a commitment of $2,785,000 on a letter of credit for the benefit of our joint venture partner, an affiliate of Bickford, which holds a minority interest in PropCo. See Note 4 for a discussion of our outstanding revolving loan commitment with an affiliate of Bickford. Chancellor In October 2013, we entered into a $7,500,000 commitment to build a 46-unit free-standing assisted living and memory care community, expanding our Linda Valley senior living campus in Loma Linda, California. We began construction during the first quarter of 2014 and had funded $3,115,000 as of September 30, 2014. The initial lease term is for 15 years at an annual rate of 9% plus a fixed annual escalator. NHI purchased the Linda Valley campus in 2012 and leased it to Chancellor, who has been operating the campus since 1993. We have also committed to provide up to $500,000 for renovations and improvements related to our recent acquisition of a 63-unit senior housing community in Baltimore, Maryland which we have leased to Chancellor. We began renovations during the first quarter of 2014 and had funded $257,000 as of September 30, 2014. We receive rent income on funds advanced for both construction projects. Discovery As a lease inducement, we have a contingent commitment to fund a series of payments up to $2,500,000 in connection with our September 2013 lease to Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery") of a senior living campus in Rainbow City, Alabama. Discovery would earn the contingent payments upon attaining and sustaining a specified lease coverage ratio. As earned, the payments would be due in installments of $750,000 in each of years two and three of the lease with the residual due in year four. As of September 30, 2014, incurring the contingent payments was not considered probable. Accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Fundamental In April 2013, we completed the purchase of two skilled nursing facilities located in Canton and Corinth, Texas for a purchase price of $26,150,000 in cash, plus consideration related to the Corinth facility of $1,600,000 conditional upon meeting future performance measures. In March 2014 upon satisfactory achievement of the required operating metrics, we made the full $1,600,000 payment to Fundamental. Helix Healthcare In March 2010, we completed a purchase/leaseback transaction with Helix Healthcare (“Helix”) for $12,500,000. The purchase price includes a conditional payment of $1,000,000, which is recorded as a purchase liability. Kentucky River In March 2012, we entered into a long-term lease extension and construction commitment to Jackson Hospital Corporation, an affiliate of Community Health Systems, to provide up to $8,000,000 for extensive renovations and additions to our Kentucky River Medical Center, a general acute care hospital in Jackson, Kentucky. This investment will be added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated. The construction project commenced during the first quarter of 2013 and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2014. Total construction costs incurred as of September 30, 2014 were $7,456,000. The 10-year lease extension began July 1, 2012, with an additional 5-year renewal option. Prestige We have agreed to fund capital improvements of up to $2,000,000 in connection with two of the facilities we lease to Prestige. The capital improvements will be an addition to our original investment in the properties when funded and will be included in the lease base. As of September 30, 2014, we had funded $693,000 of this commitment. Additionally, we have committed to fund contingent earn-out payments up to a maximum of $6,390,000 based on the achievement of certain financial metrics as measured periodically through December 31, 2015. At acquisition, we estimated probable contingent payments of $3,000,000 to be likely and have reflected that amount in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Contingent payments earned will be included in the lease base when funded. Santé We have a $2,000,000 supplemental construction commitment to our borrower, Santé Partners, LLC (“Santé”). This additional loan amount becomes available to the borrower when the 70-bed transitional rehabilitation hospital, completed in March 2011, achieves certain operating metrics. NHI also has the option to purchase and lease back the hospital when it achieves a predetermined level of stabilized net operating income. In connection with our Silverdale, Washington senior living campus, we have a contingent commitment to fund two lease inducement payments of $1,000,000 each. Santé would earn the payments upon attaining and sustaining a specified lease coverage ratio. If earned, the first payment would be due after the second lease year and the second payment would be due after the third lease year. As at acquisition, incurring the contingent payments is not considered probable. Accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. We are committed to fund a $3,500,000 expansion and renovation program at our Silverdale, Washington senior living campus and as of September 30, 2014 had funded $2,621,000, which was added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated. Senior Living Management In September 2014 we entered into an agreement with our current tenant, Senior Living Management, to fund up to $700,000 for renovations to our Greensboro, Georgia assisted living facility. When the renovations are complete, the total amount will be added to the lease base. No costs have been incurred to date. Litigation Our Health Care Facilities are subject to claims and suits in the ordinary course of business. Our lessees and borrowers have indemnified, and are obligated to continue to indemnify us, against all liabilities arising from both the operation of the Health Care Facilities and are further obligated to indemnify us against environmental or title problems affecting the real estate underlying such facilities. While there may be lawsuits pending against certain of the owners and/or lessees of the Health Care Facilities, management believes that the ultimate resolution of all such pending proceedings will have no material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Bickford

As of September 30, 2014, our subsidiary PropCo had purchased land and begun construction on one assisted living/memory care facility having a maximum cost of $9,000,000. Our costs incurred to date, including land, were $6,990,000. The facility is expected to open in November 2014. In February 2014 we entered into a commitment of $2,785,000 on a letter of credit for the benefit of our joint venture partner, an affiliate of Bickford, which holds a minority interest in PropCo. See Note 4 for a discussion of our outstanding revolving loan commitment with an affiliate of Bickford.

Chancellor

In October 2013, we entered into a $7,500,000 commitment to build a 46-unit free-standing assisted living and memory care community, expanding our Linda Valley senior living campus in Loma Linda, California. We began construction during the first quarter of 2014 and had funded $3,115,000 as of September 30, 2014. The initial lease term is for 15 years at an annual rate of 9% plus a fixed annual escalator. NHI purchased the Linda Valley campus in 2012 and leased it to Chancellor, who has been operating the campus since 1993. We have also committed to provide up to $500,000 for renovations and improvements related to our recent acquisition of a 63-unit senior housing community in Baltimore, Maryland which we have leased to Chancellor. We began renovations during the first quarter of 2014 and had funded $257,000 as of September 30, 2014. We receive rent income on funds advanced for both construction projects.

Discovery

As a lease inducement, we have a contingent commitment to fund a series of payments up to $2,500,000 in connection with our September 2013 lease to Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery") of a senior living campus in Rainbow City, Alabama. Discovery would earn the contingent payments upon attaining and sustaining a specified lease coverage ratio. As earned, the payments would be due in installments of $750,000 in each of years two and three of the lease with the residual due in year four. As of September 30, 2014, incurring the contingent payments was not considered probable. Accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Fundamental

In April 2013, we completed the purchase of two skilled nursing facilities located in Canton and Corinth, Texas for a purchase price of $26,150,000 in cash, plus consideration related to the Corinth facility of $1,600,000 conditional upon meeting future performance measures. In March 2014 upon satisfactory achievement of the required operating metrics, we made the full $1,600,000 payment to Fundamental.

Helix Healthcare

In March 2010, we completed a purchase/leaseback transaction with Helix Healthcare (“Helix”) for $12,500,000. The purchase price includes a conditional payment of $1,000,000, which is recorded as a purchase liability.

Kentucky River

In March 2012, we entered into a long-term lease extension and construction commitment to Jackson Hospital Corporation, an affiliate of Community Health Systems, to provide up to $8,000,000 for extensive renovations and additions to our Kentucky River Medical Center, a general acute care hospital in Jackson, Kentucky. This investment will be added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated. The construction project commenced during the first quarter of 2013 and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2014. Total construction costs incurred as of September 30, 2014 were $7,456,000. The 10-year lease extension began July 1, 2012, with an additional 5-year renewal option.

Prestige

We have agreed to fund capital improvements of up to $2,000,000 in connection with two of the facilities we lease to Prestige. The capital improvements will be an addition to our original investment in the properties when funded and will be included in the lease base. As of September 30, 2014, we had funded $693,000 of this commitment. Additionally, we have committed to fund contingent earn-out payments up to a maximum of $6,390,000 based on the achievement of certain financial metrics as measured periodically through December 31, 2015. At acquisition, we estimated probable contingent payments of $3,000,000 to be likely and have reflected that amount in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Contingent payments earned will be included in the lease base when funded.

Santé

We have a $2,000,000 supplemental construction commitment to our borrower, Santé Partners, LLC (“Santé”). This additional loan amount becomes available to the borrower when the 70-bed transitional rehabilitation hospital, completed in March 2011, achieves certain operating metrics. NHI also has the option to purchase and lease back the hospital when it achieves a predetermined level of stabilized net operating income.

In connection with our Silverdale, Washington senior living campus, we have a contingent commitment to fund two lease inducement payments of $1,000,000 each. Santé would earn the payments upon attaining and sustaining a specified lease coverage ratio. If earned, the first payment would be due after the second lease year and the second payment would be due after the third lease year. As at acquisition, incurring the contingent payments is not considered probable. Accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

We are committed to fund a $3,500,000 expansion and renovation program at our Silverdale, Washington senior living campus and as of September 30, 2014 had funded $2,621,000, which was added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated.

Senior Living Management

In September 2014 we entered into an agreement with our current tenant, Senior Living Management, to fund up to $700,000 for renovations to our Greensboro, Georgia assisted living facility. When the renovations are complete, the total amount will be added to the lease base. No costs have been incurred to date.

Litigation

Our Health Care Facilities are subject to claims and suits in the ordinary course of business. Our lessees and borrowers have indemnified, and are obligated to continue to indemnify us, against all liabilities arising from both the operation of the Health Care Facilities and are further obligated to indemnify us against environmental or title problems affecting the real estate underlying such facilities. While there may be lawsuits pending against certain of the owners and/or lessees of the Health Care Facilities, management believes that the ultimate resolution of all such pending proceedings will have no material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.