Mortgage Notes Receivable (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 properties	Mar. 31, 2011
Number of health care properties related to mortgage notes receivables	30
Interest Income, Operating	$ 1,702,000	$ 1,596,000
Proceeds from Sale and Collection of Mortgage Notes Receivable	871,000	899,000
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	6,319,000
Bickford Commitment [Member]
Number of beds in real estate property	60
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Fixed Rates	3,000,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Description	3
Construction Loans [Member]
Construction loan commitment		13,870,000
Construction of transitional rehabilitation center, number of beds		70
Supplemental draw available related to the construction loan commitment	$ 2,000,000