Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 29,353	$ 10,034	$ (8,143)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including a below-market ground lease)	31,980	24,133	23,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount	2,239	2,200	1,603
Write-off of deferred financing costs	326	1,208	0
Amortization of stock-based compensation	1,546	1,522	154
Straight-line rental income	(150)	0	0
Noncash interest income	(737)	(945)	(32)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	1,998
Loss on settlement of interest rate swap	0	0	1,661
Loss on sale of real estate	265	0	0
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(3,404)	(2,326)	4
Accounts receivable due from related party	0	2,275	(2,275)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	84	(86)	445
Interest rate swap	0	0	(1,661)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	2,929	2,239	5,152
Net cash provided by operating activities	64,431	40,254	21,906
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(281,228)	(232,466)	(25,742)
Improvements to real estate	(762)	(187)	(579)
Purchases of equipment, furniture and fixtures	(151)	(276)	(19,275)
Preferred equity investments	(4,656)	0	(7,500)
Escrow deposits for acquisition of real estate	(700)	(1,750)	(500)
Net proceeds from the sale of real estate	2,855	30	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(284,642)	(234,649)	(53,596)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net	200,402	162,963	0
Proceeds from the issuance of senior unsecured notes payable	0	0	260,000
Payments on unsecured revolving credit facility	(205,000)	0	0
Borrowings under senior secured revolving credit facility	0	35,000	10,000
Repayments of borrowings under senior secured revolving credit facility	0	(35,000)	(88,701)
Proceeds from the issuance of mortgage notes payable	0	0	50,676
Payments on the mortgage notes payable	(95,022)	(3,183)	(68,155)
Payments on senior secured term loan	0	0	(65,624)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(1,352)	(2,303)	(13,436)
Net-settle adjustment on restricted stock	(515)	(145)	0
Dividends paid on common stock	(37,269)	(21,790)	(33,001)
Net contribution from (distribution to) Ensign	0	0	4,356
Net cash provided by financing activities	216,244	180,542	56,115
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(3,967)	(13,853)	24,425
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	11,467	25,320	895
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	7,500	11,467	25,320
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	21,238	21,687	17,243
Income taxes paid	0	0	104
Supplemental schedule of noncash operating, investing and financing activities:
Increase in dividends payable	3,371	3,758	3,946
Application of escrow deposit to acquisition of real estate	1,250	500	0
Distributions paid to common stockholders through common stock issuances	0	0	98,998
Holdback of purchase price to acquire real estate	0	0	300
Operating assets and liabilities that were not transferred to CareTrust	0	0	1,042
Equipment, furniture and fixtures that were not transferred to CareTrust	0	0	(11,684)
Net capital distribution to Ensign	0	0	10,475
Senior unsecured term loan, net [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under line of credit	100,000	0	0
Unsecured revolving credit facility [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under line of credit	$ 255,000	$ 45,000	$ 0