Note 1 - Description of Business

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 1 – Description of Business

National HealthCare Corporation (“NHC” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of senior health care services. We operate or manage, through certain affiliates, 73 skilled nursing centers with 9,410 beds in nine states and provide other senior health care services in one additional state. These operations are provided by separately funded and maintained subsidiaries. We provide health care services to patients in a variety of settings including skilled nursing centers, managed care specialty units, sub–acute care units, Alzheimer's care units, homecare programs, assisted living centers and independent living centers. We also have a non-controlling ownership interest in a hospice care business that services NHC owned health care centers and others. In addition, we provide insurance services, management and accounting services, and lease properties to operators of skilled nursing centers.