CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 234,452	$ 233,128	$ 228,723
Expenses:
Residence operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization and residence lease expense shown below)	136,659	139,689	142,048
General and administrative	13,361	15,080	13,515
Residence lease expense	17,686	19,846	20,044
Depreciation and amortization	23,103	22,806	21,219
Impairment of long-lived asset	0	0	148
Goodwill impairment	0	0	16,315
Total operating expenses	190,809	197,421	213,289
Income from operations	43,643	35,707	15,434
Other (expense) income:
Other-than-temporary investments impairment	0	(2,026)	0
Other	956	23	0
Debt	(7,872)	(7,782)	(7,343)
Write-off of deferred financing fees	(279)	0	0
Interest income	12	11	54
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	36,460	25,933	8,145
Income tax expense	(12,100)	(9,449)	(7,343)
Net income from continuing operations	24,360	16,484	802
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	(957)
Net income (loss)	$ 24,360	$ 16,484	$ (155)
Weighted average common shares:
Basic (in shares)	22,955	23,080	23,510
Diluted (in shares)	23,256	23,412	23,510
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.06	$ 0.71	$ 0.03
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ (0.04)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 1.06	$ 0.71	$ (0.01)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 0.70	$ 0.03
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ (0.04)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 0.70	$ (0.01)
Dividends declared and paid per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0	$ 0