Mortgage And Other Notes Receivable	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Financing Receivable, Net [Abstract]
Mortgage Notes Receivable	MORTGAGE AND OTHER NOTES RECEIVABLE At September 30, 2016, we had net investments in mortgage notes receivable with a net carrying value of $154,994,000, secured by real estate and UCC liens on the personal property of 10 facilities, and other notes receivable with a carrying value of $28,999,000, guaranteed by significant parties to the notes or by cross-collateralization of properties with the same owner. No allowance for doubtful accounts was considered necessary at September 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015. Timber Ridge In February 2015, we entered into an agreement to lend up to $154,500,000 to LCS-Westminster Partnership III LLP (“LCS-WP”), an affiliate of Life Care Services (“LCS”) . The loan agreement conveys a mortgage interest and will facilitate the construction of Phase II of Timber Ridge at Talus (“Timber Ridge”), a Type-A Continuing Care Retirement Community in Issaquah, WA managed by LCS. Our loan to LCS-WP represents a variable interest. As an affiliate of a larger company, LCS-WP is structured to limit liability for potential damage claims, is capitalized to achieve that purpose and is considered a VIE. The loan takes the form of two notes under a master credit agreement. The senior note (“Note A”) totals $60,000,000 at a 6.75% interest rate with 10 basis-point escalators after year three, and has a term of 10 years. We have funded $33,936,000 of Note A as of September 30, 2016. We anticipate fully funding Note A by December 31, 2016. Note A is interest-only and is locked to prepayment for three years. After year three, the prepayment penalty starts at 5% and declines 1% per year. The second note (“Note B”) is a construction loan for up to $94,500,000 at an annual interest rate of 8% and a five-year maturity and was fully funded as of September 30, 2016. We expect substantial repayment with new resident entrance fees upon the opening of Phase II. In October, 2016, Phase II opened, and LCS began repayment of the outstanding balance on Note B, with remittances of $20,597,000 during October. NHI has a purchase option on the entire Timber Ridge property for the greater of fair market value or $115,000,000 during a purchase option window of 120 days that will contingently open in year five or upon earlier stabilization of the development, as defined. Senior Living Communities In connection with the acquisition in December 2014 of the properties leased to Senior Living, we provided a $15,000,000 revolving line of credit, the maturity of which mirrors the 15-year term of the master lease. Borrowings are used to finance construction projects within the Senior Living portfolio, including building additional units. Up to $5,000,000 of the facility may be used to meet general working capital needs. Amounts outstanding under the facility, $4,096,000 at September 30, 2016, bear interest at an annual rate equal to the prevailing 10-year U.S. Treasury rate, 1.60%, plus 6%. In March 2016, we extended two mezzanine loans of up to $12,000,000 and $2,000,000, respectively, to affiliates of Senior Living, to partially fund construction of a 186-unit senior living campus on Daniel Island in South Carolina. The loans bear interest payable monthly at a 10% annual rate and mature in March 2021. The loans have a total balance of $6,024,000 at September 30, 2016. Our loans to Senior Living and its subsidiaries represent a variable interest as does our lease, which is considered to be analogous to a financing arrangement. Senior Living is structured to limit liability for potential claims for damages, is appropriately capitalized for that purpose and is considered a VIE. Senior Living Management On August 3, 2016, we entered into an agreement to furnish to our current tenant, Senior Living Management, Inc. (“SLM”), through its affiliates, loans of up to $24,500,000 to facilitate SLM’s acquisition of five senior housing facilities that it currently operates. The loans consist of two notes under a master credit agreement, include both a mortgage and a corporate loan, and bear interest at 8.25% with terms of five years, plus optional one and two-year extensions. NHI has a right of first refusal if SLM elects to sell the facilities. The total amount funded was $12,556,000 as of September 30, 2016. Our loans to SLM represent a variable interest as do our leases, which are analogous to financing arrangements. SLM is structured to limit liability for potential damage claims, is capitalized for that purpose and is considered a VIE. Bickford On July 15, 2016, NHI extended a construction loan facility of up to $14,000,000 to Bickford for the purpose of developing and operating an assisted living/memory care community in Illinois. The total amount funded as of September 30, 2016 was $1,500,000, interest is to accrue at 9%, and the loan is to mature on July 15, 2021. The promissory note is secured by a first mortgage lien on substantially all real and personal property as well as a pledge of any and all leases or agreements which may grant a right of use to the subject property. Usual and customary covenants extend to the agreement, including the borrower’s obligation for payment of insurance and taxes. Our loan to Bickford represents a variable interest as do our leases, which are considered to be analogous to financing arrangements. Bickford is structured to limit liability for potential claims for damages, is capitalized to achieve that purpose and is considered a VIE. Sycamore As discussed in Note 2, on June 1, 2016, two notes receivable from Sycamore, an affiliate of Bickford, having an aggregate principal and accrued interest balance of $9,753,000 were retired as part of an asset acquisition. As of September 30, 2016, our direct support of Sycamore is limited to our guarantee on a $3,930,000 letter of credit established for their benefit. Sycamore, as an affiliate company of Bickford, is structured to limit liability for potential claims for damages, is capitalized to achieve that purpose and is considered a VIE.

MORTGAGE AND OTHER NOTES RECEIVABLE

At September 30, 2016, we had net investments in mortgage notes receivable with a net carrying value of $154,994,000, secured by real estate and UCC liens on the personal property of 10 facilities, and other notes receivable with a carrying value of $28,999,000, guaranteed by significant parties to the notes or by cross-collateralization of properties with the same owner. No allowance for doubtful accounts was considered necessary at September 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015.

Timber Ridge

In February 2015, we entered into an agreement to lend up to $154,500,000 to LCS-Westminster Partnership III LLP (“LCS-WP”), an affiliate of Life Care Services (“LCS”) . The loan agreement conveys a mortgage interest and will facilitate the construction of Phase II of Timber Ridge at Talus (“Timber Ridge”), a Type-A Continuing Care Retirement Community in Issaquah, WA managed by LCS. Our loan to LCS-WP represents a variable interest. As an affiliate of a larger company, LCS-WP is structured to limit liability for potential damage claims, is capitalized to achieve that purpose and is considered a VIE.

The loan takes the form of two notes under a master credit agreement. The senior note (“Note A”) totals $60,000,000 at a 6.75% interest rate with 10 basis-point escalators after year three, and has a term of 10 years. We have funded $33,936,000 of Note A as of September 30, 2016. We anticipate fully funding Note A by December 31, 2016. Note A is interest-only and is locked to prepayment for three years. After year three, the prepayment penalty starts at 5% and declines 1% per year. The second note (“Note B”) is a construction loan for up to $94,500,000 at an annual interest rate of 8% and a five-year maturity and was fully funded as of September 30, 2016. We expect substantial repayment with new resident entrance fees upon the opening of Phase II. In October, 2016, Phase II opened, and LCS began repayment of the outstanding balance on Note B, with remittances of $20,597,000 during October.

NHI has a purchase option on the entire Timber Ridge property for the greater of fair market value or $115,000,000 during a purchase option window of 120 days that will contingently open in year five or upon earlier stabilization of the development, as defined.

Senior Living Communities

In connection with the acquisition in December 2014 of the properties leased to Senior Living, we provided a $15,000,000 revolving line of credit, the maturity of which mirrors the 15-year term of the master lease. Borrowings are used to finance construction projects within the Senior Living portfolio, including building additional units. Up to $5,000,000 of the facility may be used to meet general working capital needs. Amounts outstanding under the facility, $4,096,000 at September 30, 2016, bear interest at an annual rate equal to the prevailing 10-year U.S. Treasury rate, 1.60%, plus 6%.

In March 2016, we extended two mezzanine loans of up to $12,000,000 and $2,000,000, respectively, to affiliates of Senior Living, to partially fund construction of a 186-unit senior living campus on Daniel Island in South Carolina. The loans bear interest payable monthly at a 10% annual rate and mature in March 2021. The loans have a total balance of $6,024,000 at September 30, 2016.

Our loans to Senior Living and its subsidiaries represent a variable interest as does our lease, which is considered to be analogous to a financing arrangement. Senior Living is structured to limit liability for potential claims for damages, is appropriately capitalized for that purpose and is considered a VIE.

Senior Living Management

On August 3, 2016, we entered into an agreement to furnish to our current tenant, Senior Living Management, Inc. (“SLM”), through its affiliates, loans of up to $24,500,000 to facilitate SLM’s acquisition of five senior housing facilities that it currently operates. The loans consist of two notes under a master credit agreement, include both a mortgage and a corporate loan, and bear interest at 8.25% with terms of five years, plus optional one and two-year extensions. NHI has a right of first refusal if SLM elects to sell the facilities. The total amount funded was $12,556,000 as of September 30, 2016.

Our loans to SLM represent a variable interest as do our leases, which are analogous to financing arrangements. SLM is structured to limit liability for potential damage claims, is capitalized for that purpose and is considered a VIE.

Bickford

On July 15, 2016, NHI extended a construction loan facility of up to $14,000,000 to Bickford for the purpose of developing and operating an assisted living/memory care community in Illinois. The total amount funded as of September 30, 2016 was $1,500,000, interest is to accrue at 9%, and the loan is to mature on July 15, 2021. The promissory note is secured by a first mortgage lien on substantially all real and personal property as well as a pledge of any and all leases or agreements which may grant a right of use to the subject property. Usual and customary covenants extend to the agreement, including the borrower’s obligation for payment of insurance and taxes.

Our loan to Bickford represents a variable interest as do our leases, which are considered to be analogous to financing arrangements. Bickford is structured to limit liability for potential claims for damages, is capitalized to achieve that purpose and is considered a VIE.

Sycamore

As discussed in Note 2, on June 1, 2016, two notes receivable from Sycamore, an affiliate of Bickford, having an aggregate principal and accrued interest balance of $9,753,000 were retired as part of an asset acquisition. As of September 30, 2016, our direct support of Sycamore is limited to our guarantee on a $3,930,000 letter of credit established for their benefit. Sycamore, as an affiliate company of Bickford, is structured to limit liability for potential claims for damages, is capitalized to achieve that purpose and is considered a VIE.