The number of beds or units in a real estate property sold by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	ltc_NumberOfBedsOrUnitsInRealEstatePropertySold
Namespace Prefix:	ltc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of real estate properties sold by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ltc_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	ltc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sales price of real estate or properties that were intended to be sold or held for capital appreciation or rental income.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of real estate or properties that were intended to be sold or held for capital appreciation or rental income. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2941-110230

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2443-110228

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of real estate investment property, net of accumulated depreciation, which may include the following: (1) land available-for-sale; (2) land available-for-development; (3) investments in building and building improvements; (4) tenant allowances; (5) developments in-process; (6) rental properties; and (7) other real estate investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=ltc_AssistedLivingPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis=ltc_OhioAndPennsylvaniaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis=stpr_KS
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis=ltc_IndianaAndIowaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=ltc_SkilledNursingPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis=stpr_AL
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Real Estate Investments - Properties sold (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) item property	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) item property
Disposals and other
Carrying value	$ 1,107,043	$ 1,107,043		$ 1,086,089
Net gain	14,353	$ 62,698	$ 5,054
Properties sold
Disposals and other
Number of properties sold \| property		8		4
Number of beds or units in property sold \| item		605		175
Sales price		$ 85,375		$ 14,250
Carrying value	19,970	19,970		8,726
Net gain		$ 62,698		$ 5,054
ALF \| Ohio and Pennsylvania \| Properties sold
Disposals and other
Number of properties sold \| property		6
Number of beds or units in property sold \| item		320
Sales price		$ 67,500
Carrying value	16,352	16,352
Net gain		48,445
ALF \| Kansas \| Properties sold
Disposals and other
Sales price		350
Carrying value	346	$ 346
ALF \| Indiana and Iowa \| Properties sold
Disposals and other
Number of properties sold \| property				4
Number of beds or units in property sold \| item				175
Sales price				$ 14,250
Carrying value				8,726
Net gain				$ 5,054
SNF \| Alabama \| Properties sold
Disposals and other
Number of properties sold \| property		2
Number of beds or units in property sold \| item		285
Sales price		$ 17,525
Carrying value	$ 3,272	3,272
Net gain		$ 14,253