The initial rate charged under a lease entered into in connection with the purchase of a property.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The initial escalator rate charged from lease year 3 through the end of the lease term under a lease entered into in connection with the purchase of a property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LeaseEscalatorRateAfterLeaseYear3
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The initial escalator rate charged from lease year 1 and through lease year 3 under a lease entered into in connection with the purchase of a property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LeaseEscalatorRateFromLeaseYear1toLeaseYear3
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents required deposit payments related to acquisition of real estate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstateLeaseDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This concept represents the value allocated to depreciable assets related to a real estate acquisition completed during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_RealEstateAcquisitionValueAllocatedDepreciableAssets
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This concept represents the value allocated to land related to a real estate acquisition completed during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_RealEstateAcquisitionValueAllocatedLand
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the purchase price of a real estate acquisition including cash and debt forgiveness.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_RealEstatePurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

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

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details) - Senior Living Communities [Member]	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 beds_or_units	Nov. 03, 2016 beds_or_units	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property		1,671		186
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract		15 years
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property \| beds_or_units			299
Real Estate Purchase Price	$ 74,000,000
Payments To Acquire Real Estate, Lease Deposit	$ 4,000,000
Initial lease rate			6.77%
Lease Escalator Rate, From Lease Year 1 to Lease Year 3			4.00%
Lease Escalator Rate, After Lease Year 3			3.00%
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	13 years
Real Estate Acquisition, Value Allocated, Land	$ 7,724,000
Real Estate Acquisition, Value Allocated, Depreciable Assets	$ 62,276,000