Real Estate (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 properties	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 properties	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Chancellor Senior Living [Member] properties	Jun. 01, 2014 Chancellor Senior Living [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Prestige Senior Living [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Prestige Senior Living [Member] Capital Improvement Commitment [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Bickford Development Properties [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Unstabilized Portfolio [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Holiday Acquisition Holdings [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2013 Holiday Acquisition Holdings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Holiday Acquisition Holdings [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2013 Holiday Acquisition Holdings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 National Healthcare Corporation [Member] Master_Leases properties	Sep. 30, 2013 National Healthcare Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 National Healthcare Corporation [Member] Master_Leases properties	Sep. 30, 2013 National Healthcare Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 National Healthcare Corporation [Member] NHC - 1991 Lease [Member] properties renewalOptions	Sep. 30, 2014 National Healthcare Corporation [Member] NHC - 2013 Lease [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Bickford Senior Living [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2013 Bickford Senior Living [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Bickford Senior Living [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2013 Bickford Senior Living [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Bickford Senior Living [Member] Bickford Development Properties [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Bickford Senior Living [Member] Stabilized Portfolio [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Bickford Senior Living [Member] Unstabilized Portfolio [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Care Investment Trust [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Senior Housing Community [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Skilled Nursing Facility [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Skilled Nursing Facility [Member] Prestige Senior Living [Member] beds_or_units properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Skilled Nursing Facility [Member] National Healthcare Corporation [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Skilled Nursing Facility [Member] National Healthcare Corporation [Member] Subleased Facilities [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Hospital [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Medical Office Building [Member] properties	Sep. 30, 2014 Assisted Living Facility [Member] Prestige Senior Living [Member] beds_or_units	Sep. 30, 2014 Independent Living Facility [Member] National Healthcare Corporation [Member] properties
Number of Real Estate Properties	163		163					4	2	3	2	25		25		42		42		35	7	29		29			27		14	94	64	3	39	4	3	2		3
Number of States in which Entity Operates	30		30
Nonportfolio Assets, Original Cost	$ 899,000		$ 899,000
Real Estate Investment Property, Portfolio Assets	1,492,241,000		1,492,241,000
Number of Lessees	24		24
Significant Acquisition, Cost, Cash						5,650,000	11,500,000	40,115,000
Number of Units in Real Estate Property						25	56																									196					105
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract						15 years 0 months 0 days		15 years 0 months 0 days						17 years 0 months 0 days
Initial lease rate						8.00%	8.00%	8.40%
Number of Master Leases																2		2
Initial Lease Amount												31,915,000		31,915,000								19,254,000		19,254,000
Lease Escalator Rate, From Lease Year 1 to Lease Year 3												4.50%		4.50%
Number of Years Until Lease Escalator Changes														3 years 0 months 0 days
Lease Escalator Rate, After Lease Year 3												3.50%		3.50%
Operating Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue	41,669,000	27,873,000	123,335,000	76,045,000								10,954,000		32,863,000		9,109,000	8,503,000	27,337,000	25,650,000			5,324,000	5,209,000	15,789,000	9,383,000			983,000
Percentage of Continuing Revenue												25.00%		25.00%		20.00%	28.00%	21.00%	30.00%			12.00%	17.00%	12.00%	11.00%
Straight Line Rent			12,692,000	4,408,000									2,975,000		8,926,000
Joint Venture Contributed Properties Ownership Interest Retained																						85.00%		85.00%
Joint Venture Contributed Properties Ownership Interest Surrendered																						15.00%		15.00%
Number Of Development Projects Active																										1
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual	2,588,000		7,765,000
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Earnings or Loss of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual	389,000		1,196,000
Number of additional lease renewal options						2														2
Lease Renewal Period In Years																				5 years 0 months 0 days
Percentage Rent Rate																					0.04
Percentage rent																573,000	570,000	1,734,000	2,452,000
Minimum Annual Lease Income																				30,750,000	3,450,000
Asset Purchase, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Earn Out Payments								6,390,000
Purchase Option Amount																					49,000,000
Capital Improvements Commitment									2,000,000
Real estate purchase liabilities	4,000,000		4,000,000		2,600,000			3,000,000
Construction and Development Costs										$ 6,990,000														$ 22,546,000