Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Cash and escrow deposits - restricted

Cash and escrow deposits - restricted consist principally of deposits required by certain lenders and lessors pursuant to the applicable agreement and consist of the following (dollars in thousands):

	December 31,
	2011		2010
Current:
Real estate taxes	$	12,541	$	9,981
Tenant security deposits		4,374		4,591
Insurance reserves		12,904		12,728
Entrance fees		4,891		39,785
Replacement reserve and other		11,193		12,584
Subtotal		45,903		79,669
Long term:
Insurance reserves		5,412		6,116
Debt service and other deposits		47,568		59,200
Subtotal		52,980		65,316
Total	$	98,883	$	144,985

Property, plant and equipment, useful lives

Property, plant and equipment and leasehold intangibles, which include amounts recorded under capital leases, are recorded at cost.  Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are as follows:

Asset Category	Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Buildings and improvements	40
Furniture and equipment	3 – 7
Resident lease intangibles	1 – 4

Asset Category Estimated Useful Life (in years)

Leasehold improvements	Shorter of the lease term or asset useful life
Leasehold operating intangibles	Shorter of the lease term or asset useful life
Assets under capital and financing leases	Shorter of the lease term or asset useful life

Definite lived intangible assets -useful lives

Amortization of the Company’s definite lived intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are as follows:

Asset Category	Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Facility purchase options	40
Management contracts and other	3 – 5

Prior period financial statements included in this filing have been revised to reflect this correction

The prior period financial statements included in this filing have been revised to reflect this correction, the effects of which have been summarized below (dollars in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31, 2010
	As Reported		Adjustment		As Revised
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities	$	—	$	67,271	$	67,271
Total revenue		2,213,264		67,271		2,280,535
Costs incurred on behalf of managed communities		—		67,271		67,271
Total operating expense		2,147,270		67,271		2,214,541

	Year Ended December 31, 2009
	As Reported		Adjustment		As Revised
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities	$	—	$	77,206	$	77,206
Total revenue		2,023,068		77,206		2,100,274
Costs incurred on behalf of managed communities		—		77,206		77,206
Total operating expense		1,993,288		77,206		2,070,494