Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012 Class A Common Stock [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ASSISTED LIVING CONCEPTS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000929994
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		20,072,122	2,898,356
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012