Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 15, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	LTC PROPERTIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000887905
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1,991,870
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		39,585,320
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY