Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 325,321,000		$ 325,321,000		$ 325,321,000
Adjustments	(140,000)		(140,000)		(142,000)
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(215,628,000)		(215,628,000)		(215,486,000)
Net	109,553,000		109,553,000		109,693,000
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	329,657,000		329,657,000		325,671,000
Accumulated Amortization	(171,748,000)		(171,748,000)		(154,330,000)
Net	157,909,000		157,909,000		171,341,000
Amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets	8,700,000	8,700,000	17,400,000	17,400,000
Retirement Centers [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	7,642,000		7,642,000		7,642,000
Adjustments	(34,000)		(34,000)		0
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(487,000)		(487,000)		(487,000)
Net	7,121,000		7,121,000		7,155,000
Assisted Living [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	102,680,000		102,680,000		102,680,000
Adjustments	(106,000)		(106,000)		(142,000)
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(142,000)		(142,000)		0
Net	102,432,000		102,432,000		102,538,000
CCRCs [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	214,999,000		214,999,000		214,999,000
Adjustments	0		0		0
Accumulated Impairment and Other Charges	(214,999,000)		(214,999,000)		(214,999,000)
Net	0		0		0
Community purchase options [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	147,610,000		147,610,000		147,782,000
Accumulated Amortization	(15,716,000)		(15,716,000)		(13,867,000)
Net	131,894,000		131,894,000		133,915,000
Management contracts and other [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	158,041,000		158,041,000		158,041,000
Accumulated Amortization	(156,032,000)		(156,032,000)		(140,463,000)
Net	2,009,000		2,009,000		17,578,000
Home health licenses [Member]
Schedule of Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	24,006,000		24,006,000		19,848,000
Accumulated Amortization	0		0		0
Net	$ 24,006,000		$ 24,006,000		$ 19,848,000

Other goodwill adjustments.

Name:	bkd_OtherAdjustmentsGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	bkd
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ Details

Name:	bkd_ScheduleOfIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	bkd
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The accumulated amount of amortization of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate amount of intangible asset amortization recognized as expense during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of the gross carrying amounts before accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date of all intangible assets having statutory or estimated useful lives. The aggregate gross carrying amount (including any previously recognized impairment charges) of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph e
-Clause 1
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 43
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph l
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph e
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 34
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 72
-Subparagraph d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable), in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a,h)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The accumulated impairment losses related to goodwill as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, which have a projected indefinite period of benefit (hence are not amortized), allocated to the reportable segment. These assets, acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in either an asset acquisition or business combination, are assessed at least annually for impairment. Examples may include trade secrets, contractual rights, trade names, and licensing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant