Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)				3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended						3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012 SHG	Dec. 31, 2011 SHG	Mar. 31, 2011 Skilled Nursing Unit	Apr. 30, 2012 Capital improvement commitment expiring 4/30/2013 Skilled Nursing property	Jun. 30, 2012 Dividend declared	May 31, 2012 Dividend declared	Apr. 30, 2012 Dividend declared	Apr. 30, 2012 Subsequent capital expenditures Capital improvement commitment expiring 4/30/2013 Skilled Nursing	Mar. 31, 2012 Bankruptcy of affiliate Sunwest Management Inc	Mar. 31, 2012 Repayment of mortgage loan receivable Skilled Nursing Florida Unit	Mar. 31, 2012 Repayment of mortgage loan receivable Skilled Nursing California Unit
Subsequent Events
Cash dividend per common share						$ 0.145	$ 0.145	$ 0.145
Amount received related to payoff of loan, excluding accrued interest											$ 2,264,000	$ 135,000
Investment in senior subordinated notes of related party		6,500,000	6,500,000
Bankruptcy settlement claim received										347,000
Commitment	13,350,000				1,700,000				1,700,000
Used Commitment	$ 148,000				$ 86,000				$ 86,000
Compound interest (as a percent)									9.00%
Properties					2				2
Number of beds/units acquired				524							90	124
Minimum rent calculation multiplier (as a percent)					9.00%				9.00%