Mortgage And Other Notes Receivable (Details)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) properties beds_or_units	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	$ 150,720,000	$ 133,714,000
Number of health care properties related to mortgage notes receivables \| properties	9
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable	$ 0
Secured By Real Estate [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	114,021,000
Not Secured By Real Estate [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	36,699,000
Life Care Services [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	97,607,000
Notes Receivable, Total Borrowings, Master Credit Agreement	$ 154,500,000
Notes Receivable, Number Of Loans, Master Credit Agreement	2
Purchase Option, Amount, Minimum	$ 115,000,000
Purchase Option, Period, Months	120 days
Purchase Option, Open Period, Begin, Note Year	5 years
Senior Living Communities [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	$ 1,203,000
Loans Receivable, Description of Variable Rate Basis, Reference Rate Maturity	10 years
Loans Receivable, Description of Variable Rate Basis	.0178
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	1,671
Loans and Lease Receivable, Maximum Revolving Amount	$ 15,000,000
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	15 years
Revolving Note Receivable, Maximum Amount Available for Working Capital Purposes	$ 5,000,000
Revolving Note Receivable, Amount Outstanding	$ 9,227,000
Loans Receivable, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	6.00%
Bickford Note Investment [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	$ 9,200,000
Number of health care properties related to mortgage notes receivables \| properties	6
Number of Units in Real Estate Property	342
Note Receivable Interest Rate	12.00%
Purchase Option Amount	$ 97,000,000
Note A [Member] \| Life Care Services [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	28,000,000
Notes Receivable, Total Borrowings, Master Credit Agreement	$ 60,000,000
Note Receivable, First Note Year For Rate Escalator	3 years
Loan Term	10 years
Note Receivable, Prepayment, Disallowance Period	3 years
Note Receivable, Prepayment Penalty, Rate	5.00%
Note Receivable, Prepayment Penalty, Rate Decrease	1.00%
Notes Receivable, Interest Rate, Master Credit Agreement	6.75%
Loans And Leases Receivable, Commitment, Fixed Rates, Escalator, Basis Points	10
Note A [Member] \| Senior Living Communities [Member]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Fixed Rates	$ 12,000,000
Note Receivable Interest Rate	10.00%
Note B [Member] \| Life Care Services [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	$ 70,855,000
Notes Receivable, Total Borrowings, Master Credit Agreement	$ 94,500,000
Loan Term	5 years
Notes Receivable, Interest Rate, Master Credit Agreement	8.00%
Note B [Member] \| Senior Living Communities [Member]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Fixed Rates	$ 2,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Bickford Note Investment [Member]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	479,000
Loans and Lease Receivable, Maximum Revolving Amount	$ 500,000
Note Receivable Interest Rate	10.00%

The concept represents a total loan term in number of years

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_LoanTerm
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the number of basis points by which the interest rate on a fixed rate note or lease receivable will escalate periodically.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LoansAndLeasesReceivableCommitmentFixedRatesEscalatorBasisPoints
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LoansReceivableDescriptionofVariableRateBasisReferenceRateMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loans and Lease Receivable, Maximum Revolving Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This concept represents the note year in which the note receivable interest rate will begin to escalate by a fixed amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NoteReceivableFirstNoteYearForRateEscalator
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This concept refers to the period of time during which a note receivable may not be prepaid.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NoteReceivablePrepaymentDisallowancePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This concept represents the percentage of outstanding principal that will be paid as a prepayment penalty.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This concept represents the annual percentage point decrease in the prepayment penalty percentage rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents the interest rate to be received for outstanding borrowings under a master credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents the number of notes receivable in a master credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NotesReceivableNumberOfLoansMasterCreditAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the total amount of available borrowings in a notes receivable master credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_NotesReceivableTotalBorrowingsMasterCreditAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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

This item represents the amount of an outstanding purchase option.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents the minimum amount of a purchase option when the agreement indicates the greater of this amount of fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This concept represents the note year during which the purchase option period opens.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_PurchaseOptionOpenPeriodBeginNoteYear
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This concept represents the number of months during which an outstanding purchase option may be exercised.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_PurchaseOptionPeriodMonths
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revolving Note Receivable, Amount Outstanding

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Revolving Note Receivable, Maximum Amount Available for Working Capital Purposes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_RevolvingNoteReceivableMaximumAmountAvailableforWorkingCapitalPurposes
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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 FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=d3e5074-111524

Reference 2: 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

Term of the lessor's leasing arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LessorLeasingArrangementsOperatingLeasesTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the amount of cash required to fully fund agreements to provide advances to borrowers and lessees at stated interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 825
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51676700&loc=d3e61044-112788

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 825
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51676700&loc=d3e61082-112788

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableCommitmentsFixedRates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

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

- Definition

The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the loans receivable, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=nhi_SecuredByRealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=nhi_NotSecuredByRealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=nhi_LifeCareServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=nhi_SeniorLivingCommunitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=nhi_BickfordNoteInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=nhi_NoteAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=nhi_NoteBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: