Income Taxes (Tax Effects of Temporary Differences and Carryforwards Included in Net Deferred Tax Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards included in the net deferred tax liabilities
Property, primarily differences in depreciation and amortization, the tax basis of land assets and the treatment of interests and certain costs	$ (413,566)	$ (406,023)		$ (309,775)
Operating loss and interest deduction carryforwards	564,091	398,859		377,645
Expense accruals and other	14,624	15,355		13,421
Valuation allowance	(503,531)	(352,528)		(331,458)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(338,382)	(344,337)		(250,167)
Increase (decrease) in net deferred tax liability		94,200
Operating loss carryforwards, Valuation allowance	369,400	251,100		250,000
Net difference between tax bases and the reported amount of REIT assets and liabilities	$ 4,700,000	4,100,000
Period during which subject built-in gains tax (in years)	5 years
NOL carryforward related to TRS entities	$ 460,200
NOL carryforward related to REIT	1,100,000
TRSs
Tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards included in the net deferred tax liabilities
Operating loss carryforwards, Valuation allowance	85,500	$ 66,100		$ 47,000
HCT, Canford, Eglise, Ardent
Tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards included in the net deferred tax liabilities
Increase (decrease) in net deferred tax liability	(6,000)
Net deferred tax liability	51,800
Holiday Retirement
Tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards included in the net deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax liability			$ 107,700
HCT
Tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards included in the net deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax liability	32,300
NOL carryforward related to REIT	18,600
Ardent
Tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards included in the net deferred tax liabilities
NOL carryforward related to REIT	442,600
Tax credit carryforward, amount	$ 10,500