Commitments And Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments And Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Bickford In February 2015 our joint venture with Bickford announced plans to develop five senior housing facilities in Illinois and Virginia. Each community will be managed by Bickford and consist of 60 private-pay assisted living and memory care units. These five properties will represent the culmination of plans announced in 2012 between NHI and Bickford to construct a total of eight facilities. The first three communities, all in Indiana, opened in 2013 and 2014. Pre-development and land acquisition on the five facilities started in mid-2015 with openings planned beginning in late 2016. The total estimated project cost is $55,000,000. As of June 30, 2016, land and development costs incurred on the project totaled $34,536,000. In February 2014 we entered into a commitment on a letter of credit for the benefit of Sycamore which holds a minority interest in PropCo. At June 30, 2016 our commitment on the letter of credit totaled $3,930,000. In conjunction with our acquisition of five assisted living and memory care communities in June 2016, we have committed to Bickford the funding of an additional $2,400,000 for capital expenditures and the expansion of the existing facilities, the funding of which will be added to the lease base. No amounts have been funded toward our commitment as of June 30, 2016. Chancellor At June 30, 2016, we had a continuing commitment with Chancellor Health Care ("Chancellor") to provide up to $650,000 for renovations and improvements related to a senior housing community in Oregon. Renovations began on this property during the second quarter of 2015, and we have funded $52,000 as of June 30, 2016. 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 Senior Living (“Discovery”) of a senior living campus in Rainbow City, Alabama. Discovery would earn the contingent payments upon attaining, and maintaining, a specified lease coverage ratio. Payments were assessed for funding in an amount of $750,000 in September 2015 with the residual potentially due later in 2016. As of June 30, 2016, incurring the contingent payments were not considered probable. Accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. East Lake In connection with our July 2015 lease of three senior housing properties, NHI has committed to East Lake certain lease incentive payments of $8,000,000 contingent on reaching and maintaining certain metrics, a contingent earnout of $750,000 payable to the seller upon attaining certain metrics, and the funding of an additional $400,000 for specified capital improvements. At acquisition, we estimated the seller contingent earnout payment to be probable and accordingly, have reflected that amount in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 2016. Funding of capital improvements and contingent payments earned will be included in the lease base when funded. The Ensign Group Our May 2016 lease of 15 skilled nursing facilities in Texas to The Ensign Group, as discussed in Note 2, includes a commitment from NHI to purchase four skilled nursing facilities being developed in Texas for $56,000,000 and lease them to Ensign. The facilities are in various stages of development, and the purchase window for the first facility is expected to open in 2017. As of June 30, 2016, no amounts related to this commitment have been funded. Life Care Services See Note 4 for a discussion of our loan commitments to Timber Ridge, an affiliate of Life Care Services. Santé We are committed to fund a $3,500,000 expansion and renovation program at our Silverdale, Washington senior living campus and as of June 30, 2016, had funded $2,621,000, which was added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated. In addition, we have a contingent commitment to fund two lease inducement payments of $1,000,000 each. Santé would earn the payments upon attaining and sustaining a specified lease coverage ratio. If earned, the first payment would be due following calendar year 2015 and the second payment would be due following calendar year 2016. At acquisition, incurring the contingent payments was not considered probable. No change to our initial assessment has been made as a result of 2015 operations, and accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Senior Living Communities See Note 4 for a discussion of our loan commitments to Senior Living Communities, LLC and its affiliates. Watermark Retirement Communities In connection with our acquisition of two entrance fee continuing care retirement communities currently operated by Watermark Retirement Communities in June 2016, we have committed to our tenant East Lake up to an additional $10,000,000 for capital improvements and potential expansion of the communities over the next two years. A total of $747,000 has been funded toward this commitment as of June 30, 2016. Woodland Village See Note 2 for a discussion of our renovation commitment to Village Concepts Retirement Communities. Litigation Our 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 the operation of the 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 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

In February 2015 our joint venture with Bickford announced plans to develop five senior housing facilities in Illinois and Virginia. Each community will be managed by Bickford and consist of 60 private-pay assisted living and memory care units. These five properties will represent the culmination of plans announced in 2012 between NHI and Bickford to construct a total of eight facilities. The first three communities, all in Indiana, opened in 2013 and 2014. Pre-development and land acquisition on the five facilities started in mid-2015 with openings planned beginning in late 2016. The total estimated project cost is $55,000,000. As of June 30, 2016, land and development costs incurred on the project totaled $34,536,000.

In February 2014 we entered into a commitment on a letter of credit for the benefit of Sycamore which holds a minority interest in PropCo. At June 30, 2016 our commitment on the letter of credit totaled $3,930,000.

In conjunction with our acquisition of five assisted living and memory care communities in June 2016, we have committed to Bickford the funding of an additional $2,400,000 for capital expenditures and the expansion of the existing facilities, the funding of which will be added to the lease base. No amounts have been funded toward our commitment as of June 30, 2016.

Chancellor

At June 30, 2016, we had a continuing commitment with Chancellor Health Care ("Chancellor") to provide up to $650,000 for renovations and improvements related to a senior housing community in Oregon. Renovations began on this property during the second quarter of 2015, and we have funded $52,000 as of June 30, 2016.

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 Senior Living (“Discovery”) of a senior living campus in Rainbow City, Alabama. Discovery would earn the contingent payments upon attaining, and maintaining, a specified lease coverage ratio. Payments were assessed for funding in an amount of $750,000 in September 2015 with the residual potentially due later in 2016. As of June 30, 2016, incurring the contingent payments were not considered probable. Accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

East Lake

In connection with our July 2015 lease of three senior housing properties, NHI has committed to East Lake certain lease incentive payments of $8,000,000 contingent on reaching and maintaining certain metrics, a contingent earnout of $750,000 payable to the seller upon attaining certain metrics, and the funding of an additional $400,000 for specified capital improvements. At acquisition, we estimated the seller contingent earnout payment to be probable and accordingly, have reflected that amount in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 2016. Funding of capital improvements and contingent payments earned will be included in the lease base when funded.

The Ensign Group

Our May 2016 lease of 15 skilled nursing facilities in Texas to The Ensign Group, as discussed in Note 2, includes a commitment from NHI to purchase four skilled nursing facilities being developed in Texas for $56,000,000 and lease them to Ensign. The facilities are in various stages of development, and the purchase window for the first facility is expected to open in 2017. As of June 30, 2016, no amounts related to this commitment have been funded.

Life Care Services

See Note 4 for a discussion of our loan commitments to Timber Ridge, an affiliate of Life Care Services.

Santé

We are committed to fund a $3,500,000 expansion and renovation program at our Silverdale, Washington senior living campus and as of June 30, 2016, had funded $2,621,000, which was added to the basis on which the lease amount is calculated. In addition, we have a contingent commitment to fund two lease inducement payments of $1,000,000 each. Santé would earn the payments upon attaining and sustaining a specified lease coverage ratio. If earned, the first payment would be due following calendar year 2015 and the second payment would be due following calendar year 2016. At acquisition, incurring the contingent payments was not considered probable. No change to our initial assessment has been made as a result of 2015 operations, and accordingly, no provision for these payments is reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Senior Living Communities

See Note 4 for a discussion of our loan commitments to Senior Living Communities, LLC and its affiliates.

Watermark Retirement Communities

In connection with our acquisition of two entrance fee continuing care retirement communities currently operated by Watermark Retirement Communities in June 2016, we have committed to our tenant East Lake up to an additional $10,000,000 for capital improvements and potential expansion of the communities over the next two years. A total of $747,000 has been funded toward this commitment as of June 30, 2016.

Woodland Village

See Note 2 for a discussion of our renovation commitment to Village Concepts Retirement Communities.

Litigation

Our 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 the operation of the 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 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.