Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

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,
	2012		2011
Current:
Real estate taxes	$	11,502	$	12,541
Tenant security deposits		2,015		4,374
Insurance reserves		12,892		12,904
Entrance fees		4,159		4,891
Replacement reserve and other		12,528		11,193
Subtotal		43,096		45,903
Long term:
Insurance reserves		5,188		5,412
Debt service and other deposits		57,579		47,568
Subtotal		62,767		52,980
Total	$	105,863	$	98,883

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
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)
Community purchase options		40
Management contracts and other		3 – 5