Real Estate Investments - Mortgage Loans Activity (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) item
Mortgage Loans
Originations and fundings under mortgage loans receivable	$ 1,454	$ 9,610
Scheduled principal payments received	(65)	(37)
Mortgage loan (premiums)		(1)
(Provision for)/ recovery of loan loss reserve	(14)	(96)
Net increase in mortgage loans receivable	$ 1,375	9,476
Mortgage Loans
Mortgage Loans
General amortization schedule of mortgage loans	30 years
Specified basis points for annual increase in interest rate (as a percent)	2.25%
Michigan \| SNF \| Mortgages with 8.7% Interest, fixed for five years, and escalating by 2.25% thereafter \| Mortgage Loans
Mortgage Loans
Additions to mortgage loans		$ 7,400
Interest rate for mortgage loan (as a percent)		8.70%
General amortization schedule of mortgage loans		5 years
Specified basis points for annual increase in interest rate (as a percent)		2.25%
SNF Beds \| Mortgage Loans
Mortgage Loans
Number of beds/units \| item	2,892
SNF Beds \| Michigan \| SNF \| Mortgages with 8.7% Interest, fixed for five years, and escalating by 2.25% thereafter \| Mortgage Loans
Mortgage Loans
Number of beds/units \| item		112

No definition available.

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- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the value of mortgage loans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ltc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Mortgage loan related to the bank premiums.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Represents the amortization period of mortgage loan on real estate properties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the basis points specified for an increase in annual interest rate on mortgage loan receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The Amount of expense related to loss recovery from loan and loss of reserve

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ltc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Interest rate of mortgage loan within investment in mortgage loan on real estate by entity with substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate or interest in real estate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 12
-Paragraph Column B
-Subsection 29

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 310
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29(Column B))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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