Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 53,369,000	$ 64,613,000	$ 59,300,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	34,384,000	28,547,000	29,792,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	6,228,000	5,226,000	2,455,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investments	(6,675,000)	(14,188,000)	(13,616,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated investments	10,288,000	15,473,000	6,317,000
Gains on sale of marketable securities	(379,000)	(39,000)	(1,640,000)
Gain on recovery of notes receivable		(5,454,000)
Deferred income taxes	(1,434,000)	(2,404,000)	1,416,000
Stock-based compensation	2,021,000	2,298,000	2,366,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions:
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	(6,245,000)	(10,405,000)	(7,636,000)
Accounts receivable	(5,215,000)	(13,778,000)	(7,263,000)
Income tax receivable	(4,727,000)	5,933,000	537,000
Inventories	19,000	(486,000)	759,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,587,000)	(76,000)	(77,000)
Trade accounts payable	2,827,000	2,495,000	831,000
Accrued payroll	(3,603,000)	26,219,000	(16,418,000)
Amounts due to third party payors	1,312,000	2,352,000	481,000
Other current liabilities and accrued risk reserves	(5,652,000)	(6,401,000)	11,675,000
Obligation to provide future services	238,000	1,898,000	(2,461,000)
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,486,000	635,000	(2,354,000)
Deferred revenue	39,000	(110,000)	(91,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	75,694,000	102,348,000	64,373,000
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Additions to property and equipment	(53,298,000)	(43,438,000)	(22,003,000)
Investments in unconsolidated limited liability companies	(1,975,000)
Acquisition of real estate of six skilled nursing facilities		(21,000,000)
Acquisition of non-controlling interest	(768,000)		(7,500,000)
Investments in notes receivable	(767,000)		(600,000)
Collections of notes receivable	3,156,000	11,865,000	1,260,000
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	9,523,000	8,039,000	46,660,000
Purchases of marketable securities	(62,165,000)	(93,155,000)	(111,691,000)
Sale of marketable securities	48,786,000	81,389,000	62,649,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(57,508,000)	(56,300,000)	(31,225,000)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Tax benefit (expense) from stock-based compensation	201,000	(225,000)	(267,000)
Principal payments under capital lease obligations	(2,436,000)
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders	(8,670,000)	(8,671,000)	(8,671,000)
Dividends paid to common stockholders	(18,704,000)	(17,469,000)	(30,849,000)
Issuance of common shares	7,429,000	991,000	13,412,000
Repurchase of common shares	(6,995,000)	(4,700,000)
Entrance fee deposits (refunds)	(501,000)	40,000	(1,310,000)
(Increase) decrease in deposits	(448,000)	(1,010,000)	230,000
Net cash used in financing activities	(30,124,000)	(31,044,000)	(27,455,000)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(11,938,000)	15,004,000	5,693,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period	81,705,000	66,701,000	61,008,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	69,767,000	81,705,000	66,701,000
Supplemental Information:
Cash payments for interest	2,242,000	497,000	383,000
Cash payments for income taxes	36,642,000	34,273,000	34,142,000
Non-cash financing and investing activities include:
Buildings, personal property, and obligations recorded under capital lease agreements	39,032,000
NHC assigned the assets and liabilities of eight Solaris Hospice programs to Caris in exchange for an additional limited partnership interest.
Current assets assigned			1,862,000
Property and equipment assigned			303,000
Current liabilities assigned			(799,000)
Goodwill			2,945,000
Investment in limited liability company			$ (4,311,000)