DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 property tenant
Real estate properties
Number of real estate properties	1,200
Number of properties leased under triple net leases	468
Number of tenants | tenant	3
Brookdale Senior Living
Real estate properties
Number of properties leased under triple net leases	135
Number of Brookdale Senior Living properties excluded from count	1
Ardent
Real estate properties
Number of properties leased under triple net leases	10
Kindred
Real estate properties
Number of properties leased under triple net leases	31
Development Projects
Real estate properties
Number of properties under development	15
Number of properties included in investments in unconsolidated entities	5
Seniors Housing Communities
Real estate properties
Number of independent third party managed properties	362
Medical Office Buildings | Kindred
Real estate properties
Number of MOB properties included in our office operations reportable business segment	1