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

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

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=68064133&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=68064133&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=65884687&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

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_InvestmentTypeAxis=nhi_LessThanFullyFundedLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=nhi_BickfordSeniorLivingMember
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 Event Subsequent Event (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Event Subsequent Event (Details) - USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2015
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount		$ 133,493,000		$ 133,714,000
Less Than Fully Funded Loans [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount		73,552,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Fixed Rates		127,500,000
Bickford Senior Living [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Fixed Rates		$ 14,000,000
Note Receivable Interest Rate		9.00%
Initial lease rate		7.25%
Bickford Senior Living [Member] \| Less Than Fully Funded Loans [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount		$ 2,413,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Fixed Rates		$ 14,000,000
Bickford Senior Living [Member] \| Less Than Fully Funded Loans [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net Amount			$ 1,800,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Commitments, Fixed Rates	$ 14,000,000
Note Receivable Interest Rate			9.00%
Initial lease rate			9.55%