CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified				1 Months Ended			9 Months Ended						3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended						1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 state province	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013 Seniors housing communities property	Oct. 31, 2013 Kindred	Sep. 30, 2013 Kindred Lease	Sep. 30, 2013 Atria and Sunrise [Member] Seniors housing communities property	Sep. 30, 2013 Total gross book value of properties Seniors housing communities	Sep. 30, 2013 Total gross book value of properties Skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, MOBs and other healthcare assets	Sep. 30, 2013 Total gross book value of properties ATRIA	Sep. 30, 2013 Total gross book value of properties SUNRISE	Sep. 30, 2013 Total gross book value of properties Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2013 Total gross book value of properties Kindred	Sep. 30, 2013 Total revenues state	Sep. 30, 2013 Total revenues Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2012 Total revenues Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2013 Total revenues Kindred	Sep. 30, 2012 Total revenues Kindred	Sep. 30, 2013 Total NOI state	Sep. 30, 2013 Total NOI Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2012 Total NOI Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2013 Total NOI Kindred	Sep. 30, 2012 Total NOI Kindred	Sep. 30, 2013 ATRIA	Dec. 31, 2012 ATRIA	Sep. 30, 2013 Skilled Nursing Facilities Kindred Lease	Sep. 30, 2013 Hospitals Kindred Lease
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percentage of real estate investments based on gross book value							63.90%	36.10%	19.50%	13.90%	9.70%	3.30%		5.50%	6.10%	7.60%	10.10%		9.10%	10.20%	12.70%	16.80%
Number of Leases Renewed					48																				26	22
Annual Base Rent Of Renewed Leases					$ 78
Increase In Base Rent On Renewed Leases					15
Payment Received Related To Lease Renewal				$ 20
Number of Leases Set to Expire					108
Number of states accounting for more than 10% of total revenues													1
Number of states accounting for more than 10% of net operating income																		1
Ownership interests accounted for under the equity method (as a percent)		5.00%																					34.00%	34.00%
Real estate properties
Number of seniors housing communities under long-term management agreements			237			235
Number of states	46
Number of Canadian provinces	2