Note 5 - Long-term Leases (Details Textual)			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 01, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2007 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Number of Facilities Under Capitalized Lease	3
Number of Capitalized Lease Agreements	3
Initial Lease Term	10 years
Number of Additional Lease Options	2			5
Term of Additional Lease Option	5 years
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Net Minimum Payments	$ 5,200,000
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract				10 years	10 years
Capital Lease [Member]
Capital Lease Additional Percentage Rent Percentage	4.00%
Capital Lease [Member] | Skilled Nursing Facility [Member]
Number of Facilities Under Capitalized Lease	2
Two Leases with NHI [Member]
Number of Skilled Nursing Centers Leased from NHI					35
Number of Assisted Living Centers Leased from NHI					7
Number of Independent Living Centers Leased from NHI					3
Number of Lease Agreements with NHI					2
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Minimum Rentals					$ 34,200,000
Lease One With NHI [Member]
Number of Additional Lease Options		3
Term of Additional Lease Option		5 years
Number of Skilled Nursing Facilities Subleased					4
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract		15 years
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Minimum Rentals		$ 30,750,000
Operating Lease Additional Percentage Rent Percentage		4.00%
Lease Two with NHI [Member]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract			15 years
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Minimum Rentals			$ 3,450,000
Operating Lease Additional Percentage Rent Percentage			4.00%
Number of Skilled Nursing Centers			7
Facility Purchase Price			$ 49,000,000
Both NHI Lease Agreements [Member]
Operating Leases Percentage Rent Expense					$ 3,720,000	$ 2,510,000	$ 2,334,000