Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($) Community	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) Community	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Community	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Community
Schedule of Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Asset impairment		$ 4,152		$ 0	$ 7,527	$ 0
Assets held for sale		354,565			354,565		$ 110,620
Loss on facility lease termination		$ 0		$ 0	0	$ 76,143
Retirement Centers [Member]
Schedule of Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of Communities classified as held for sale | Community		1
CCRCs Rental [Member]
Schedule of Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of Communities classified as held for sale | Community		3
Assisted Living [Member]
Schedule of Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of Communities classified as held for sale | Community		46
Agreements to sell six communities [Member]
Schedule of Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of Communities classified as held for sale | Community		6
Aggregate purchase price		$ 42,400
Agreement to sell 44 communities [Member]
Schedule of Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of Communities classified as held for sale | Community		44
Aggregate purchase price		$ 252,500
February 2015 acquisition of 15 communities [Member]
Schedule of Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of communities purchased or sold | Community	15
Aggregate purchase price	$ 268,600
Fair Value of Assets Acquired	187,200
Reversal of deferred lease liability	5,300
Loss on facility lease termination	$ 76,100
Assets held for sale [Member]
Schedule of Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Number of Communities classified as held for sale | Community		50	7				17
Aggregate selling price			$ 46,700
Gain on Sale of Communities			2,700
Asset impairment		$ 2,400	$ 2,600				$ 15,200
Current portion of long-term debt related to assets held for sale		$ 154,700			$ 154,700