<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001004724</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADCARE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202996</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GENTRY BOYD P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RAVINIA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30346</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45088</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.94</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-01-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-01-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>262500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>175000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The original exercise price of $4.13 has been adjusted by a 5% stock dividend granted by the company on September 30, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The warrants vest in three segments. One-third vested on grant January 10, 2011, one-third on January 10, 2012 and the remain one-third on January 10, 2013. They are exercisable as they vest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The original grant was 250,000 warrants which were subject to anti-dilution. The number has been adjusted based on the 5% stock dividend granted by the Company on September 30, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Due to the vesting schedule, not all warrants are beneficially owned as of December 31, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol Groeber for Boyd Gentry, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-02-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
