Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES We believe that we have operated our business so as to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and we intend to continue to operate in such a manner, but no assurance can be given that we will be able to qualify at all times. Effective October 1, 2012, we will record income tax expense or benefit with respect to our subsidiary which will be taxed as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary ("TRS") under provisions similar to those applicable to regular corporations. Aside from such income taxes that may be applicable to the taxable income in our TRS, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, provided that we continue to qualify as a REIT and make distributions to stockholders equal to or in excess of our taxable income. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (at the corporate and stockholder levels) that typically applies to corporate dividends. Our failure to continue to qualify under the applicable REIT qualification rules and regulations would cause us to owe state and federal income taxes and would have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Bickford We have plans to fund 8 assisted living and memory care development projects over the next three years. Total cost of each of the 60-bed facilities is expected to average $9,000,000 or less. The parties expect to initiate up to three development projects per year over the three-year period. At September 30, 2012, we had purchased land and begun construction on two assisted living facilities having a maximum cost of $18,000,000. Our costs incurred to date were $1,971,000. The facilities will be included in the joint venture with Bickford described in Note 3. At stabilization of operations, the operating company, OpCo, will pay an annual lease rate of 9% on the total cost of the new facilities, plus an annual fixed escalator. Separately from the joint venture, NHI has provided a three-year, $3,000,000 revolving credit facility to Bickford to fund the market feasibility and pre-construction costs related to the new development projects. Outstanding borrowings on the facility amounted to $61,000 at September 30, 2012. Kentucky River In March 2012, we entered into a long-term lease extension and construction commitment to Jackson Hospital Corporation, an affiliate of Community Health Systems, to provide up to $8,000,000 for extensive renovations and additions to our Kentucky River Medical Center ("Kentucky River"), a general acute care hospital in Jackson, Kentucky. This investment will be added to the lease basis on which the lease amount is calculated. The construction project is expected to commence by the end of 2012 and continue over two years. The lease extension is for an initial period of 10 years beginning July 1, 2012, plus one 5-year renewal option. Legend Healthcare In October 2011, we completed a purchase/leaseback of four skilled nursing facilities in Texas with affiliates of Legend Healthcare, LLC (“Legend”) for $55,278,000 which included contingent consideration of $5,478,000. Legend is eligible for the additional contingent payment if, as is probable, they attain certain performance metrics over the next two years. Polaris In September 2011, we entered into an agreement with Polaris to provide up to $21,500,000 for the development and construction of a 60-bed acute care hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee which became fully operational on September 30, 2012. As of September 30, 2012, we had funded a total of $19,022,000 toward this commitment. Polaris is entitled to further advances based on a final accounting of all project costs up to the maximum allowed in our original commitment. Santé In June 2010, we entered into a construction loan commitment to provide up to $13,870,000 to Santé Mesa, LLC (“Santé”) for the development and construction of a 70-bed transitional rehabilitation hospital with a skilled nursing license in Mesa, Arizona. The facility opened in March 2011. The $13,870,000 commitment includes an unfunded $2,000,000 supplemental draw available to the borrower when the facility achieves certain operating metrics. NHI also has the option to purchase and lease back the hospital when it achieves a predetermined level of stabilized net operating income. We have committed to fund a $3,500,000 expansion and renovation program in connection with our acquisition of the senior living campus in Silverdale, Washington leased to Santé. Helix Healthcare In March 2010, we completed a purchase/leaseback transaction with Helix Healthcare (“Helix”) for $12,500,000. The purchase price includes a conditional payment of $1,000,000. Capital Funding Group As described in Note 4, we have agreed to fund up to $15,000,000 on a three-year revolving credit facility with Capital Funding Group ("CFG") with monthly payments of interest only at an annual rate of 13.5%. At September 30, 2012, we had a principal balance of $5,000,000 on our note with CFG. Litigation The health care facilities in which we have investments of leases or loans are subject to claims and suits in the ordinary course of business. Our lessees and mortgagors have indemnified, and will continue to indemnify, us against all liabilities arising from the operation of the health care facilities and will indemnify us against environmental or title problems affecting the real estate underlying such facilities. While there are lawsuits pending against certain of the owners and/or lessees of the health care facilities, management believes that the ultimate resolution of all pending proceedings will have no material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. As previously disclosed, in November 2008 the Company was served with a Civil Investigative Demand by the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General (“OTAG”), which indicated that the OTAG was investigating transactions between the Company and three Tennessee nonprofit corporations. NHI has provided the OTAG with requested information and documents and has been working with the OTAG with respect to this investigation. All issues have been resolved with respect to one of the nonprofit corporations, Care Foundation of America, Inc. In November 2011, a receiver was appointed for the second nonprofit, SeniorTrust of Florida, Inc. As disclosed in our Form 8-K filed September 7, 2012, the receiver of SeniorTrust has caused SeniorTrust to bring a lawsuit against NHI and another party (Davidson Co. Chancery Court Case No. 12-1275-III). As part of the complaint, SeniorTrust asserts claims that primarily arise from an allegation that the terms of a 2004 transaction in which NHI sold a group of nursing homes in Kansas and Missouri to SeniorTrust, with NHI providing 100% financing of the purchase price, were unfair to SeniorTrust. SeniorTrust also alleges that NHI caused SeniorTrust to enter into other transaction on terms adverse to SeniorTrust. SeniorTrust seeks compensatory and punitive damages and other relief. NHI has denied SeniorTrust’s claims and intends to vigorously defend against SeniorTrust’s complaint. NHI also has asserted a counterclaim seeking payment in full of SeniorTrust’s outstanding debt to NHI upon the receiver’s sale of the assets that secure that debt. In September 2012, a receiver was appointed for the third nonprofit, ElderTrust of Florida, Inc. NHI does not know whether the receiver for ElderTrust will commence any legal proceedings against NHI. The receiver for SeniorTrust and for ElderTrust is charged with winding-up the affairs of those entities, which will include the sale of those assets that secure the financing provided to each entity by NHI. During the three months ended September 30, 2012, one of our subsidiaries reached a settlement regarding the final tax return for the operations acquired through foreclosure and agreed to settle a claim for personal injury in relation to a matter which arose prior to our acquisition of the subsidiary. These settlements resulted in charges against income in the amounts of $180,000 and $275,000, respectively.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We believe that we have operated our business so as to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and we intend to continue to operate in such a manner, but no assurance can be given that we will be able to qualify at all times. Effective October 1, 2012, we will record income tax expense or benefit with respect to our subsidiary which will be taxed as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary ("TRS") under provisions similar to those applicable to regular corporations. Aside from such income taxes that may be applicable to the taxable income in our TRS, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, provided that we continue to qualify as a REIT and make distributions to stockholders equal to or in excess of our taxable income. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (at the corporate and stockholder levels) that typically applies to corporate dividends. Our failure to continue to qualify under the applicable REIT qualification rules and regulations would cause us to owe state and federal income taxes and would have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Bickford

We have plans to fund 8 assisted living and memory care development projects over the next three years. Total cost of each of the 60-bed facilities is expected to average $9,000,000 or less. The parties expect to initiate up to three development projects per year over the three-year period. At September 30, 2012, we had purchased land and begun construction on two assisted living facilities having a maximum cost of $18,000,000. Our costs incurred to date were $1,971,000. The facilities will be included in the joint venture with Bickford described in Note 3. At stabilization of operations, the operating company, OpCo, will pay an annual lease rate of 9% on the total cost of the new facilities, plus an annual fixed escalator. Separately from the joint venture, NHI has provided a three-year, $3,000,000 revolving credit facility to Bickford to fund the market feasibility and pre-construction costs related to the new development projects. Outstanding borrowings on the facility amounted to $61,000 at September 30, 2012.

Kentucky River

In March 2012, we entered into a long-term lease extension and construction commitment to Jackson Hospital Corporation, an affiliate of Community Health Systems, to provide up to $8,000,000 for extensive renovations and additions to our Kentucky River Medical Center ("Kentucky River"), a general acute care hospital in Jackson, Kentucky. This investment will be added to the lease basis on which the lease amount is calculated. The construction project is expected to commence by the end of 2012 and continue over two years. The lease extension is for an initial period of 10 years beginning July 1, 2012, plus one 5-year renewal option.

Legend Healthcare

In October 2011, we completed a purchase/leaseback of four skilled nursing facilities in Texas with affiliates of Legend Healthcare, LLC (“Legend”) for $55,278,000 which included contingent consideration of $5,478,000. Legend is eligible for the additional contingent payment if, as is probable, they attain certain performance metrics over the next two years.

Polaris

In September 2011, we entered into an agreement with Polaris to provide up to $21,500,000 for the development and construction of a 60-bed acute care hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee which became fully operational on September 30, 2012. As of September 30, 2012, we had funded a total of $19,022,000 toward this commitment. Polaris is entitled to further advances based on a final accounting of all project costs up to the maximum allowed in our original commitment.

Santé

In June 2010, we entered into a construction loan commitment to provide up to $13,870,000 to Santé Mesa, LLC (“Santé”) for the development and construction of a 70-bed transitional rehabilitation hospital with a skilled nursing license in Mesa, Arizona. The facility opened in March 2011. The $13,870,000 commitment includes an unfunded $2,000,000 supplemental draw available to the borrower when the facility achieves certain operating metrics. NHI also has the option to purchase and lease back the hospital when it achieves a predetermined level of stabilized net operating income.

We have committed to fund a $3,500,000 expansion and renovation program in connection with our acquisition of the senior living campus in Silverdale, Washington leased to Santé.

Helix Healthcare

In March 2010, we completed a purchase/leaseback transaction with Helix Healthcare (“Helix”) for $12,500,000. The purchase price includes a conditional payment of $1,000,000.

Capital Funding Group

As described in Note 4, we have agreed to fund up to $15,000,000 on a three-year revolving credit facility with Capital Funding Group ("CFG") with monthly payments of interest only at an annual rate of 13.5%. At September 30, 2012, we had a principal balance of $5,000,000 on our note with CFG.

Litigation

The health care facilities in which we have investments of leases or loans are subject to claims and suits in the ordinary course of business. Our lessees and mortgagors have indemnified, and will continue to indemnify, us against all liabilities arising from the operation of the health care facilities and will indemnify us against environmental or title problems affecting the real estate underlying such facilities. While there are lawsuits pending against certain of the owners and/or lessees of the health care facilities, management believes that the ultimate resolution of all pending proceedings will have no material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

As previously disclosed, in November 2008 the Company was served with a Civil Investigative Demand by the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General (“OTAG”), which indicated that the OTAG was investigating transactions between the Company and three Tennessee nonprofit corporations. NHI has provided the OTAG with requested information and documents and has been working with the OTAG with respect to this investigation. All issues have been resolved with respect to one of the nonprofit corporations, Care Foundation of America, Inc. In November 2011, a receiver was appointed for the second nonprofit, SeniorTrust of Florida, Inc. As disclosed in our Form 8-K filed September 7, 2012, the receiver of SeniorTrust has caused SeniorTrust to bring a lawsuit against NHI and another party (Davidson Co. Chancery Court Case No. 12-1275-III). As part of the complaint, SeniorTrust asserts claims that primarily arise from an allegation that the terms of a 2004 transaction in which NHI sold a group of nursing homes in Kansas and Missouri to SeniorTrust, with NHI providing 100% financing of the purchase price, were unfair to SeniorTrust. SeniorTrust also alleges that NHI caused SeniorTrust to enter into other transaction on terms adverse to SeniorTrust. SeniorTrust seeks compensatory and punitive damages and other relief. NHI has denied SeniorTrust’s claims and intends to vigorously defend against SeniorTrust’s complaint. NHI also has asserted a counterclaim seeking payment in full of SeniorTrust’s outstanding debt to NHI upon the receiver’s sale of the assets that secure that debt. In September 2012, a receiver was appointed for the third nonprofit, ElderTrust of Florida, Inc. NHI does not know whether the receiver for ElderTrust will commence any legal proceedings against NHI. The receiver for SeniorTrust and for ElderTrust is charged with winding-up the affairs of those entities, which will include the sale of those assets that secure the financing provided to each entity by NHI.

During the three months ended September 30, 2012, one of our subsidiaries reached a settlement regarding the final tax return for the operations acquired through foreclosure and agreed to settle a claim for personal injury in relation to a matter which arose prior to our acquisition of the subsidiary. These settlements resulted in charges against income in the amounts of $180,000 and $275,000, respectively.