DIRECT FINANCING LEASES (Narrative 3) (Detail) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended			18 Months Ended
	Feb. 13, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 16, 2019 USD ($) facility	Jan. 11, 2019 USD ($) facility	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) facility	Nov. 27, 2013 USD ($) lease facility	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) facility	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) facility	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) facility	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) facility	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) facility	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) facility	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) facility	Sep. 28, 2018 property
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Total proceeds												$ 164,000
Approximate purchase price												$ 105,700	$ 412,700	$ 1,022,800
Number of facilities owned | facility						924						924			924
Impairment on real estate properties												$ 35,014	99,070	58,726
Rental income												767,340	775,176	$ 743,885
Accounts receivable - net						$ 347,377			$ 279,334			$ 347,377	279,334		$ 347,377
Direct financing lease, lease income															0
Operating lease, Lease income															$ 0
Minimum
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Fair value of annual rents										$ 32,000
Rental yields										9.00%
Maximum
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Fair value of annual rents										$ 38,000
Rental yields										10.00%
Seller Note Maturing January 11, 2026 [Member] | Subsequent event
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Interest rate			6.00%
Five Existing Operators [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Rental income							$ 16,800
Distribution Trust [Member] | Subsequent event
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Total proceeds		$ 115,800
Cash		5,600
Accounts receivable - net		21,300
Estimated cost to pay other creditors		$ 26,900
Proceeds from partial liquidation of trust	$ 78,800
Operating Lease [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of facilities owned | facility						3						3			3
Number of remaining facilities | facility												3
Recorded investment in operating lease						$ 30,500						$ 30,500			$ 30,500
Northwest [Member] | Direct Financing Leases [Member] | Sales Agreement [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of facility													33,300
Impairment on real estate properties													3,300
Southeast [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of remaining facilities | facility										38
Texas
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Approximate purchase price								$ 22,800	$ 40,000	$ 2,300	$ 66,000
Orianna
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Working capital receivable outstanding						15,200						15,200			15,200
Approximate purchase price					$ 529,000
Number of leases | lease					4
Master lease term					50 years
Interest on lease per annum					10.60%
Carrying amount of facility Net							$ 184,500
Allowance for loss under direct financing leases										$ 172,200			172,200
Number of facilities transitioned | facility							22
Additional provision for uncollectible accounts						27,200
Recorded investment in direct financing leases													$ 337,700
Orianna | Subsequent event
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Approximate purchase price			$ 146,000
Consideration			$ 176,000
Amortization period			15 years
Orianna | Seller Note Maturing January 11, 2026 [Member] | Subsequent event
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Seller note held by the company			$ 30,000
Orianna | Restructuring Support Agreement ("RSA")
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Monthly rent payment under restructuring				$ 1,000
Number of facilities transitioned | facility				23
Number of facilities to be sold | facility				19
Amount committed as debtor in possession financing				$ 30,000
Orianna | Northwest [Member] | Sales Agreement [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of facilities sold | facility									8				8
Carrying amount of facility									$ 36,400				$ 36,400
Orianna | Southeast [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Carrying amount of facility Net						$ 120,500						120,500			$ 120,500
Impairment on real estate properties													20,800
Outstanding receivable reduction													19,300
Allowance for loss under direct financing leases												$ 103,200
Orianna | Southeast [Member] | Direct Financing Leases [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of remaining facilities | facility						15
Orianna | Texas
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Impairment on real estate properties													1,800
Written down value of direct financing lease assets to original cost													$ 19,000
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of facilities sold | facility						1						1			1
Carrying amount of facility						$ 15,400						$ 15,400			$ 15,400
Total proceeds												$ 15,400
Number of facilities owned | property																7
Skilled Nursing Facilities | Subsequent event
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of remaining facilities | facility			15
Skilled Nursing Facilities | Distribution Trust [Member] | Subsequent event
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of facilities sold | facility		15
Skilled Nursing Facilities | Texas | Direct Financing Leases [Member] | Existing Operator
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of facilities transitioned									9				9
Skilled Nursing Facilities | Orianna
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Carrying amount of facility							$ 5,500
Total proceeds							$ 5,500
Skilled Nursing Facilities | Orianna | Direct Financing Leases [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of facilities owned | facility					55		1
Assisted Living Facilities
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of facilities owned | property																1
Assisted Living Facilities | Orianna | Direct Financing Leases [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of facilities owned | facility					1