CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK (Details)										9 Months Ended						3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 property province state	Dec. 31, 2013 property	Sep. 30, 2014 ATRIA	Dec. 31, 2013 ATRIA	Sep. 30, 2014 Emeritus property	Sep. 30, 2014 Kindred property	Sep. 30, 2014 Skilled Nursing Facilities Kindred property	Sep. 30, 2014 Seniors Housing Communities property	Sep. 30, 2014 Seniors Housing Communities Atria and Sunrise property	Sep. 30, 2014 Total gross book value of properties ATRIA	Sep. 30, 2014 Total gross book value of properties SUNRISE	Sep. 30, 2014 Total gross book value of properties Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2014 Total gross book value of properties Kindred	Sep. 30, 2014 Total gross book value of properties Seniors Housing Communities	Sep. 30, 2014 Total gross book value of properties Hospitals, Medical Office Building, and Other	Sep. 30, 2014 Total revenues state	Sep. 30, 2014 Total revenues Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2013 Total revenues Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2014 Total revenues Kindred	Sep. 30, 2013 Total revenues Kindred	Sep. 30, 2014 Total NOI state	Sep. 30, 2014 Total NOI Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2013 Total NOI Brookdale Senior Living	Sep. 30, 2014 Total NOI Kindred	Sep. 30, 2013 Total NOI Kindred
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration percentage										24.30%	12.60%	10.40%	2.10%	66.40%	33.60%		5.60%	5.50%	5.40%	7.50%		9.40%	9.20%	9.00%	12.50%
Number of states	46
Number of Canadian provinces	7
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
Number of properties leased	907				15
Properties classified as held for sale	48	19			1		1
Number of properties re-leased, transitioned to new operators or sold						103
Number of properties whose leases are set to expire						108
Number of properties previously leased and expected to be sold, rent obligation required							4
Number of properties previously leased and expected to be sold							5
Number of seniors housing communities under long-term management agreements								270	269
Ownership interests accounted for under the equity method (as a percent)			34.00%	34.00%