Real Estate Investments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 property
Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Gross Investments	906,582
Percentage of Investments	100.00%
Number of properties	179
Number of states	26
Number of operators	35
Owned Properties | Minimum
Operating leases
Initial term of non-cancelable operating lease	10 years
Number of properties under each triple net lease	1
Specified annual increase over the prior year's rent (as a percent)	2.00%
Owned Properties | Maximum
Operating leases
Initial term of non-cancelable operating lease	15 years
Specified annual increase over the prior year's rent (as a percent)	3.00%
SNF Beds | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Number of Beds/Units	9,069
ALF Units
Real Estate Investments
Number of Beds/Units	2
ALF Units | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Number of Beds/Units	4,776
Skilled Nursing | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Gross Investments	448,010
Percentage of Investments	49.40%
Number of properties	73
Investment per Bed/Unit	53,110.00
Skilled Nursing | SNF Beds | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Number of Beds/Units	8,435
Assisted Living | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Gross Investments	379,874
Percentage of Investments	41.90%
Number of properties	96
Investment per Bed/Unit	84,380.00
Assisted Living | ALF Units | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Number of Beds/Units	4,502
Range of Care | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Gross Investments	43,907
Percentage of Investments	4.80%
Number of properties	8
Investment per Bed/Unit	48,360.00
Range of Care | SNF Beds | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Number of Beds/Units	634
Range of Care | ALF Units | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Number of Beds/Units	274
Under development | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Gross Investments	22,347
Percentage of Investments	2.50%
158-units combination assisted living and memory care properties
Real Estate Investments
Number of beds/units acquired	158
143-bed skilled nursing property | SNF Beds
Real Estate Investments
Number of beds/units acquired	143
120-bed skilled nursing property | SNF Beds
Real Estate Investments
Number of beds/units acquired	120
Schools | Owned Properties
Real Estate Investments
Gross Investments	12,444
Percentage of Investments	1.40%
Number of properties	2
Memory care property | 60-units memory care properties
Real Estate Investments
Number of beds/units acquired	60
Assisted living and Memory care property
Real Estate Investments
Number of properties	2