Name:	snh_AssumedRealEstateLeaseUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of premium on assumed debt that an Entity assumes in acquiring a business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionPremiumOnDebtAssumed1
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of private pay independent living units within communities acquired.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_NumberOfAcquiredPrivatePayIndependentLivingUnits
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of buildings owned as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_NumberOfBuildings
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of buildings acquired or agreed to be acquired by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_NumberOfBuildingsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the number of buildings sold by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_NumberOfBuildingsSold
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of communities.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_NumberOfCommunities
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of properties acquired or agreed to be acquired by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the number of properties sold or agreed to be sold by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_NumberOfPropertiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the aggregate purchase price excluding acquisition costs of real estate properties acquired or agreed to be acquired by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_RealEstateAggregatePurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the aggregate purchase price of real estate properties acquired by the entity during the period. This amount includes cash paid plus debt assumed, if any, and other settlement adjustments but excludes closing costs.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_RealEstateAggregatePurchasePriceIncludingOtherSettlementAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the intangible lease assets recorded as part of the real estate acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_RealEstatePropertiesAcquiredIntangibleLeaseAssets
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the intangible lease liabilities recorded as part of the real estate acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_RealEstatePropertiesAcquiredIntangibleLeaseLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the property plant and equipment assets recorded as part of the real estate acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_RealEstatePropertiesAcquiredPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Area of a real estate property.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of debt that an Entity assumes in acquiring a business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

Name:	us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionDebtAssumed1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=snh_TripleNetSeniorLivingCommunitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=us-gaap_SeriesOfIndividuallyImmaterialBusinessAcquisitionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=snh_ManagedSeniorLivingCommunitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	snh_OperatingLeasesOfLessorLesseeAxis=snh_TaxableREITSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=snh_MedicalOfficeBuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LandMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingImprovementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=snh_FourStatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=snh_FurnitureFixturesAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_GA
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_MN
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_FL
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationsDisposedOfBySaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationsHeldForSaleOrDisposedOfBySaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=snh_SkilledNursingFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_OH
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: