CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue
Resident fees					$ 2,291,757		$ 2,207,673		$ 2,016,349
Management fees					13,595		5,591		6,719
Reimbursed costs incurred on behalf of managed communities					152,566		67,271		77,206
Total revenue	671,971		578,224		2,457,918	[1]	2,280,535	[1]	2,100,274	[1]
Expense
Facility operating expense (excluding depreciation and amortization of $211,038, $208,181 and $184,780, respectively)					1,508,571		1,437,930		1,302,277
General and administrative expense (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $19,856, $20,759 and $26,935, respectively)					148,327		131,709		134,864
Facility lease expense					274,858		270,905		272,096
Depreciation and amortization					268,506		292,341		271,935
(Gain) loss on sale of communities, net					0		(3,298)		2,043
Asset impairment					16,892		13,075		10,073
Gain on acquisition					(1,982)		0		0
Costs incurred on behalf of managed communities					152,566		67,271		77,206
Facility lease termination expense					0		4,608		0
Total operating expense					2,367,738		2,214,541		2,070,494
Income from operations	19,812	[2]	17,772	[2]	90,180		65,994		29,780
Interest income					3,538		2,238		2,354
Interest expense:
Debt					(124,873)		(132,641)		(128,869)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount					(13,427)		(8,963)		(9,505)
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization					(3,878)		(4,118)		3,765
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net					(18,863)		(1,557)		(1,292)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures					1,432		168		440
Other non-operating income (expense)					56		(1,454)		4,146
Loss before income taxes	(14,875)		(8,136)		(65,835)		(80,333)		(99,181)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes					(2,340)		31,432		32,926
Net loss					$ (68,175)		$ (48,901)		$ (66,255)
Basic and diluted net loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.12)		$ (0.07)		$ (0.56)		$ (0.41)		$ (0.60)
Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share (in shares)	121,161		120,010		121,161		120,010		111,288

[1] All revenue is earned from external third parties in the United States.

[2] Fourth quarter 2011 and 2010 results include non-cash impairment charges of $2.0 million and $13.1 million, respectively. First quarter 2011 results include non-cash impairment charges of $14.8 million.