Business Development and Other Significant Transactions (Narrative) (Details)							12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2016 USD ($) facility option bed	Oct. 01, 2016 USD ($) facility center bed	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 26, 2016 USD ($) bed	Nov. 01, 2015 USD ($) bed	Feb. 01, 2015 USD ($) bed	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) center bed	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 15, 2016 facility
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of nursing centers | center							76
Number of licensed nursing beds							8,453
Payment for acquisition | $							$ 0	$ 10,900,000	$ 0
Lease termination costs | $							2,008,000	0	0
Gain on sale of investment in unconsolidated affiliate | $							1,366,000	$ 0	$ 0
Hutchinson, Kansas
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Term of lease						10 years
Avon Ohio, LLC
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Lease termination costs | $							2,008,000
Lease termination fees, future annual payment amounts | $			$ 300,000
Golden Living
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of nursing centers		20								22
Golden Living | Armory, MS
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		152
Golden Living | Batesville, MS
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		130
Golden Living | Brook Manor, MS
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		58
Golden Living | Eupora, MS
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		119
Golden Living | Ripley, MS
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		140
Golden Living | Southaven, MS
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		140
Golden Living | Eason Blvd
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		120
Golden Living | Tylertown, MS
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		60
Term of lease		10 years
Golden Living | Arab, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	87
Golden Living | Meadowood, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	180
Golden Living | Riverchase, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	132
Golden Living | Boaz, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	100
Golden Living | Foley, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	154
Golden Living | Hueytown, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	50
Golden Living | Lanett, MS
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	85
Golden Living | Montgomery, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	138
Golden Living | Oneonta, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	120
Golden Living | Oxford, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	173
Golden Living | Pell City, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	94
Golden Living | Winfield, AL
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds	123
Broadmoor Manor
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		120
Term of lease		10 years
First year rent | $		$ 540,000
Escalated rent amount | $		$ 780,000
Annual increase in consumer price index		2.00%
Leake County Nursing Home
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds		99
Term of lease		2 years
First year rent | $		$ 300,000
Diversicare of Hutchinson | Hutchinson, Kansas
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds				85		85
Payment for acquisition | $				$ 4,250,000
Purchase Price | $				$ 4,293,000
Clinton Place | Clinton, Kentucky
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds				88
Payment for acquisition | $				$ 3,300,000
Purchase Price | $				$ 3,334,000
Skilled nursing center in Glasgow, Kentucky | Barren County Health Care Center Inc
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds						94
Purchase Price | $						$ 7,000,000
Skilled nursing center in Fulton, Kentucky | Haws Fulton Investors, LLC
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of licensed nursing beds					60
Purchase Price | $					$ 3,900,000
Unnamed pharmacy joint venture
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain on sale of investment in unconsolidated affiliate | $							$ 1,366,000
Commercial loan | Glasgow term loan | The PrivateBank | Skilled nursing center in Glasgow, Kentucky
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Amount of mortgage loan | $						$ 5,000,000
Property subject to operating lease | Golden Living
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of properties | facility	12	8
Amended lease | Golden Living
Business Development and Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Term of lease	10 years
First year rent | $	$ 24,675,000
Annual increase in consumer price index	2.00%
Maximum number of lease period renewals | option	2
Lease renewal period	5 years