Mortgage And Other Notes Receivable (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014 properties	Dec. 31, 2013
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	$ 60,728,000	$ 60,639,000
Number of health care properties related to mortgage notes receivables	11
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable	0
Secured By Real Estate [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	34,956,000
Not Secured By Real Estate [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	25,772,000
Bickford Senior Living [Member] \| Not Secured By Real Estate [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	308,000
Bickford Senior Living [Member]
Loans and Lease Receivable, Maximum Revolving Amount	$ 500,000
Note Receivable Interest Rate	10.00%

Loans and Lease Receivable, Maximum Revolving Amount

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This concept reflects the interest rate to be received on a loan receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Health Care Properties Related To Mortgage Notes Receivables

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NumberOfHealthCarePropertiesRelatedToMortgageNotesReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, a valuation allowance for receivables due a company that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5074-111524

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans held for sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28367877&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant