CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Senior living revenue	$ 1,077,062	$ 1,074,333	$ 1,038,737
Management fee revenue	9,234	5,817	898
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities	210,491	127,656	20,967
Total revenues	1,296,787	1,207,806	1,060,602
Operating expenses:
Senior living wages and benefits	525,733	522,444	510,012
Other senior living operating expenses	265,764	261,749	248,547
Costs incurred on behalf of managed communities	210,491	127,656	20,967
Rent expense	193,820	190,184	183,950
General and administrative	63,509	61,817	57,540
Depreciation and amortization	27,022	24,480	19,160
Impairment of long-lived assets	186		3,080
Gain on settlement		(3,365)
Total operating expenses	1,286,525	1,184,965	1,043,256
Operating income	10,262	22,841	17,346
Interest, dividend and other income	781	881	1,240
Interest and other expense	(5,227)	(6,268)	(3,917)
Acquisition related costs	(181)	(108)	(1,759)
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt	(599)	45	1
(Loss) gain on sale of available for sale securities reclassified from other comprehensive income	(5)	(19)	4,116
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of an investee	5,031	17,372	17,027
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(1,916)	(7,098)	58,389
Equity in earnings of an investee	334	316	139
Income from continuing operations	3,449	10,590	75,555
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	(5,789)	11,717	(3,381)
Net (loss) income	$ (2,340)	$ 22,307	$ 72,174
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	48,277	47,952	42,161
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	49,263	50,134	45,034
Basic (loss) income per share from:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.23	$ 1.79
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.12)	$ 0.24	$ (0.08)
Net (loss) income per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.47	$ 1.71
Diluted (loss) income per share from:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.23	$ 1.70
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.12)	$ 0.23	$ (0.08)
Net (loss) income per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.46	$ 1.62