SCHEDULE IV MORTGAGE LOANS ON REAL ESTATE (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Mortgage loans on real estate
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 165,444us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate	$ 39,299us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate	$ 53,081us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate
New mortgage loans	3,027	124,387	7,719
Other additions	6,347	4,971
Amortization of mortgage premium	(5)	(6)	(7)
Collections of principal	(9,155)	(1,933)	(21,633)
Loan loss reserve	(2)	(1,274)	139
Balance at the end of the period	$ 165,656us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate	$ 165,444us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate	$ 39,299us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstate

Represents the decrease in the loan loss reserve during the reporting period.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	ltc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total carrying amount of mortgage loans as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.6)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of premium on mortgage loans on real estate amortized during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of principal collected on mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Total amount of new mortgage loans on real estate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNewMortgageLoans
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount of additions to mortgage loans other than new loans during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateOtherAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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