Commitments And Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Bickford At September 30, 2013, our subsidiary PropCo had purchased land and begun construction on three assisted living facilities having a maximum cost of $27,000,000. Our costs incurred to date, including land, were $14,252,000. Fundamental In April 2013, we completed the purchase of two skilled nursing facilities located in Canton and Corinth, Texas for a purchase price of $26,150,000 in cash, plus consideration related to the Corinth facility of $1,600,000 conditional upon the achievement of certain operating metrics, which is probable. 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, a general acute care hospital in Jackson, Kentucky. This investment will be added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated. The construction project commenced during the first quarter of 2013 and is expected to continue over two years. Total construction costs incurred as of September 30, 2013 were $4,363,000. The 10-year lease extension began July 1, 2012, with an additional 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, including consideration of $5,478,000 which is contingent on the expected achievement of certain operating metrics. We anticipate the remaining $3,256,000, which is recorded as a purchase liability, to be funded prior to December 31, 2014. Santé We have a $2,000,000 supplemental construction commitment to our borrower, Santé Partners, LLC (“Santé”). This additional loan amount becomes available to the borrower when the 70-bed transitional rehabilitation hospital, completed in March 2011, 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 August 2012 acquisition of the senior living campus leased to Santé in Silverdale, Washington. As of September 30, 2013, we had funded $2,639,000 of this commitment, which will be added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated. 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, which is recorded as a purchase liability. Discovery As a lease inducement, we have a contingent commitment to fund a series of payments up to $2,500,000 in connection with our September 2013 lease to Discovery of a senior living campus in Rainbow City, Alabama. Discovery would earn the contingent payments upon obtaining, and maintaining, a specified lease coverage ratio. As earned, the payments would be due in installments of $750,000 in each of years two and three of the lease with the residual due in year four. At acquisition, the likelihood that we would incur the contingent payments was not considered probable. Accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Litigation The health care facilities in which we have investments 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 and discussed in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements, we have been involved in an investigation by the Tennessee Attorney General (“OTAG”) regarding transactions between the Company and two Tennessee not-for-profit corporations, as well as extended litigation with ElderTrust of Florida, Inc ("ElderTrust") and SeniorTrust of Florida, Inc. ("SeniorTrust"). In April 2013, we agreed to a full settlement of the above litigation. The settlement agreement also resolved the OTAG investigation with respect to both ElderTrust and Senior Trust and was court approved on May 3, 2013. In accordance with provisions of the settlement, in June 2013 we received payment in the full amount of $15,000,000 on the SeniorTrust notes. In the ElderTrust settlement, we acquired seven skilled nursing facilities which had served as collateral for their notes. Consideration given in the acquisition included cancellation of these notes totaling $13,741,000 and cash of $23,676,000, inclusive of closing costs. The purchase was completed August 30, 2013. The facilities were placed under a new triple-net lease to NHC as discussed in Note 2.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Bickford

At September 30, 2013, our subsidiary PropCo had purchased land and begun construction on three assisted living facilities having a maximum cost of $27,000,000. Our costs incurred to date, including land, were $14,252,000.

Fundamental

In April 2013, we completed the purchase of two skilled nursing facilities located in Canton and Corinth, Texas for a purchase price of $26,150,000 in cash, plus consideration related to the Corinth facility of $1,600,000 conditional upon the achievement of certain operating metrics, which is probable.

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, a general acute care hospital in Jackson, Kentucky. This investment will be added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated. The construction project commenced during the first quarter of 2013 and is expected to continue over two years. Total construction costs incurred as of September 30, 2013 were $4,363,000. The 10-year lease extension began July 1, 2012, with an additional 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, including consideration of $5,478,000 which is contingent on the expected achievement of certain operating metrics. We anticipate the remaining $3,256,000, which is recorded as a purchase liability, to be funded prior to December 31, 2014.

Santé

We have a $2,000,000 supplemental construction commitment to our borrower, Santé Partners, LLC (“Santé”). This additional loan amount becomes available to the borrower when the 70-bed transitional rehabilitation hospital, completed in March 2011, 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 August 2012 acquisition of the senior living campus leased to Santé in Silverdale, Washington. As of September 30, 2013, we had funded $2,639,000 of this commitment, which will be added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated.

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, which is recorded as a purchase liability.

Discovery

As a lease inducement, we have a contingent commitment to fund a series of payments up to $2,500,000 in connection with our September 2013 lease to Discovery of a senior living campus in Rainbow City, Alabama. Discovery would earn the contingent payments upon obtaining, and maintaining, a specified lease coverage ratio. As earned, the payments would be due in installments of $750,000 in each of years two and three of the lease with the residual due in year four. At acquisition, the likelihood that we would incur the contingent payments was not considered probable. Accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Litigation

The health care facilities in which we have investments 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 and discussed in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements, we have been involved in an investigation by the Tennessee Attorney General (“OTAG”) regarding transactions between the Company and two Tennessee not-for-profit corporations, as well as extended litigation with ElderTrust of Florida, Inc ("ElderTrust") and SeniorTrust of Florida, Inc. ("SeniorTrust").

In April 2013, we agreed to a full settlement of the above litigation. The settlement agreement also resolved the OTAG investigation with respect to both ElderTrust and Senior Trust and was court approved on May 3, 2013.

In accordance with provisions of the settlement, in June 2013 we received payment in the full amount of $15,000,000 on the SeniorTrust notes. In the ElderTrust settlement, we acquired seven skilled nursing facilities which had served as collateral for their notes. Consideration given in the acquisition included cancellation of these notes totaling $13,741,000 and cash of $23,676,000, inclusive of closing costs. The purchase was completed August 30, 2013. The facilities were placed under a new triple-net lease to NHC as discussed in Note 2.