This element represents the total amount of capital improvements that an entity has committed to complete.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The initial rate charged under a lease entered into in connection with the purchase of a property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_InitialLeaseRate
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The initial escalator rate charged from lease year 3 through the end of the lease term under a lease entered into in connection with the purchase of a property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LeaseEscalatorRateAfterLeaseYear3
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The lease escalator rate to be charged during lease year 2 under a lease entered into in connection with the purchase of a property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LeaseEscalatorRateYear2
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This concept reflects the interest rate to be received on a loan receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NoteReceivableInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the scheduled principal and interest payments required for a partially or fully amortizing note receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Term of the lessor's leasing arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LessorLeasingArrangementsOperatingLeasesTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans held for sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28367877&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow from the acquisition of a piece of land, anything permanently fixed to it, including buildings, structures on it and so forth; includes real estate intended to generate income for the owner; excludes real estate acquired for use by the owner.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=nhi_ChehalisWAILAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=nhi_CapitalFundingNoteMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 18, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jan. 28, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 27, 2016	Jan. 19, 2016 USD ($) beds_or_units
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Real Estate		$ 106,315,000	$ 520,505,000	$ 635,971,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount		$ 135,031,000	$ 63,630,000
Chehalis, WA IL Acquisition [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property \| beds_or_units							98
Payments to Acquire Real Estate	$ 9,400,000
Capital Improvements Commitment							$ 350,000
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	15 years
Initial lease rate							7.25%
Lease Escalator Rate, Year 2							2.50%
Lease Escalator Rate, After Lease Year 3							3.00%
Capital Funding Note [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount					$ 15,000,000
Note Receivable, Scheduled Principal and Interest Payments					$ 150,000
Note Receivable Interest Rate					10.00%	13.50%