Commitments And Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Bickford As of March 31, 2014, our subsidiary PropCo had purchased land and begun construction on one assisted living facility having a maximum cost of $9,000,000. Our costs incurred to date, including land, were $3,958,000. The facility is expected to open by the end of the third quarter of 2014. In February 2014 NHI entered into a commitment of $2,785,000 on a letter of credit for the benefit of our joint venture partner, an affiliate of Bickford, which holds a minority interest in PropCo. Chancellor In October 2013, we entered into a $7,500,000 commitment to build a 46-unit free-standing assisted living and memory care community, expanding our Linda Valley senior living campus in Loma Linda, California. We began construction during the first quarter of 2014 and had funded $521,000 as of March 31, 2014. The initial lease term is for 15 years at an annual rate of 9% plus a fixed annual escalator. NHI purchased the Linda Valley campus in 2012 and leased it to Chancellor Health Care, who has been operating the campus since 1993. We also committed to provide up to $500,000 for renovations and improvements related to our recent acquisition of a 63-unit senior housing community in Baltimore, Maryland which we have leased to Chancellor Health Care. We began renovations during the first quarter of 2014 and had funded $109,000 as of March 31, 2014. We receive rent income on funds advanced for both construction projects. 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. As of March 31, 2014, 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. 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. In March 2014 upon satisfactory achievement of the required operating metrics, we made the full $1,600,000 payment to Fundamental. 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 March 31, 2014 were $6,468,000. The 10-year lease extension began July 1, 2012, with an additional 5-year renewal option. Prestige We have agreed to fund capital improvements of up to $2,000,000 in connection with our lease of facilities to Prestige. The capital improvements will be an addition to our investment in the properties when funded and will be included in the lease base. Additionally, we have committed to fund contingent earn out payments up to a maximum of $6,390,000 based on the achievement of certain financial metrics as measured periodically through December 31, 2015. At acquisition, we estimated probable contingent payments of $3,000,000 to be likely and have reflected that amount in the condensed consolidated financial statements. 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. In connection with our Silverdale, Washington senior living campus, we have a contingent commitment to fund two lease inducement payments of $1,000,000 each. Santé would earn the payments upon obtaining and maintaining a specified lease coverage ratio. If earned, the first payment would be due after the second lease year and the second payment would be due after the third lease year. 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. 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. Litigation Our Health Care Facilities are subject to claims and suits in the ordinary course of business. Our lessees and borrowers have indemnified, and are obligated to continue to indemnify us, against all liabilities arising from both the operation of the Health Care Facilities and are further obligated to indemnify us against environmental or title problems affecting the real estate underlying such facilities. While there may be lawsuits pending against certain of the owners and/or lessees of the Health Care Facilities, management believes that the ultimate resolution of all such pending proceedings will have no material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Bickford

As of March 31, 2014, our subsidiary PropCo had purchased land and begun construction on one assisted living facility having a maximum cost of $9,000,000. Our costs incurred to date, including land, were $3,958,000. The facility is expected to open by the end of the third quarter of 2014. In February 2014 NHI entered into a commitment of $2,785,000 on a letter of credit for the benefit of our joint venture partner, an affiliate of Bickford, which holds a minority interest in PropCo.

Chancellor

In October 2013, we entered into a $7,500,000 commitment to build a 46-unit free-standing assisted living and memory care community, expanding our Linda Valley senior living campus in Loma Linda, California. We began construction during the first quarter of 2014 and had funded $521,000 as of March 31, 2014. The initial lease term is for 15 years at an annual rate of 9% plus a fixed annual escalator. NHI purchased the Linda Valley campus in 2012 and leased it to Chancellor Health Care, who has been operating the campus since 1993. We also committed to provide up to $500,000 for renovations and improvements related to our recent acquisition of a 63-unit senior housing community in Baltimore, Maryland which we have leased to Chancellor Health Care. We began renovations during the first quarter of 2014 and had funded $109,000 as of March 31, 2014. We receive rent income on funds advanced for both construction projects.

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. As of March 31, 2014, 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.

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. In March 2014 upon satisfactory achievement of the required operating metrics, we made the full $1,600,000 payment to Fundamental.

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 March 31, 2014 were $6,468,000. The 10-year lease extension began July 1, 2012, with an additional 5-year renewal option.

Prestige

We have agreed to fund capital improvements of up to $2,000,000 in connection with our lease of facilities to Prestige. The capital improvements will be an addition to our investment in the properties when funded and will be included in the lease base. Additionally, we have committed to fund contingent earn out payments up to a maximum of $6,390,000 based on the achievement of certain financial metrics as measured periodically through December 31, 2015. At acquisition, we estimated probable contingent payments of $3,000,000 to be likely and have reflected that amount in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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.

In connection with our Silverdale, Washington senior living campus, we have a contingent commitment to fund two lease inducement payments of $1,000,000 each. Santé would earn the payments upon obtaining and maintaining a specified lease coverage ratio. If earned, the first payment would be due after the second lease year and the second payment would be due after the third lease year. 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.

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.

Litigation

Our Health Care Facilities are subject to claims and suits in the ordinary course of business. Our lessees and borrowers have indemnified, and are obligated to continue to indemnify us, against all liabilities arising from both the operation of the Health Care Facilities and are further obligated to indemnify us against environmental or title problems affecting the real estate underlying such facilities. While there may be lawsuits pending against certain of the owners and/or lessees of the Health Care Facilities, management believes that the ultimate resolution of all such pending proceedings will have no material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.