Name:	nhi_ConversionOfConvertibleDebt
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Period Type:	duration

Convertible Debt Instrument, Conversion Ratio, Principal Amount, Basis

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_ConvertibleDebtInstrumentConversionRatioPrincipalAmountBasis
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of current revolving borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_CreditFacilityCurrentRevolvingBorrowingCapacity
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This item represents the renewal fee due to extend the maturity date.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_DebtInstrumentMaturityRenewalFee
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Period Type:	instant

This item represents the contractual minimum for a variable rate basis such as LIBOR for a debt instrument.

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This item represents the debt leverage limit that would trigger an increase in the interest rate to be paid on outstanding debt balances.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_DebtLeverageLimitCouponChangeTrigger
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This item represents the net book value of real estate pledged toward mortgage.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_NetBookValueofRealEstatePledgedTowardMortgage
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Percentage Of Issue Price On Face Value

No definition available.

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

This concept represents the outstanding balance of term loans.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_TermLoansOutstandingBalance
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Amount of contractual principal due at origination of mortgage loan within investment in mortgage loan on real estate by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate.

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Interest rate of mortgage loan within investment in mortgage loan on real estate by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate.

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Number of mortgage loans within investment in mortgage loan on real estate by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) resulting from recognition of deferred taxes for convertible debt with a beneficial conversion feature.

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Fair value of all liability derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount of debt identified as being convertible into another form of financial instrument (typically the entity's common stock) as of the balance sheet date, which originally required full repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the company.

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Name:	us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
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Fair value portion of borrowing which can be exchanged for a specified number of another security at the option of the issuer or the holder, for example, but not limited to, the entity's common stock.

No definition available.

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Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
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The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
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Ratio applied to the conversion of debt instrument into equity with equity shares divided by debt principal amount.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio1
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The amount by which the convertible debt's if-converted value exceeds its principle amount at the balance sheet date, regardless of whether the instrument is currently convertible. This element applies to public companies only.

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The number of equity instruments that the holder of the debt instrument would receive if the debt was converted to equity.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstruments
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Period Type:	duration

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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Period Type:	instant

Increase for accrued, but unpaid interest on the debt instrument for the period.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentIncreaseAccruedInterest
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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
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Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt discount.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
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Period Type:	instant

The carrying amount of deferred costs.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCostsCurrentAndNoncurrent
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Amount of issuance costs recognized in a share-lending arrangement entered into by the entity, in contemplation of a convertible debt offering or other financing, before deduction of accumulated amortization or effects of subsequent adjustments.

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Fair value of the assets less the liabilities of a derivative or group of derivatives.

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Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

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Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of convertible debt securities using the if-converted method.

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The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on interest rate cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
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Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
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Dividend or interest rate associated with the financial or equity instrument issued as noncash or part noncash consideration for a business or asset acquired. Noncash are transactions that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments. Part noncash refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments.

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

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Amount of cash outflow for cost from early extinguishment and prepayment of debt. Includes, but is not limited to, third-party cost, premium paid, and other fee paid to lender directly for debt extinguishment or debt prepayment. Excludes accrued interest.

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