Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

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,
	2013		2012
Current:
Real estate taxes	$	9,252	$	11,502
Tenant security deposits		1,541		2,015
Insurance reserves		11,226		12,892
Entrance fees		6,264		4,159
Replacement reserve and other		9,908		12,528
Subtotal		38,191		43,096
Long term:
Insurance reserves		11,227		5,188
Debt service and other deposits		46,384		57,579
Subtotal		57,611		62,767
Total	$	95,802	$	105,863

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
Other		3 – 5