Notes and Bonds Payable (Details 6) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Mortgage Notes 7.765% [Member] | Life Insurance Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	$ 4,700,000
Effective Interest rate	7.765%
Maturity Date	2017-01
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	11,600,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	1,900,000	2,200,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/20-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 5.550% [Member] | Commercial Bank [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	1,800,000
Effective Interest rate	5.55%
Maturity Date	2030-10
Collateral	OTH
Investment in Collateral	7,900,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	1,600,000	1,700,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/27-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 5.490% [Member] | Life Insurance Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	15,100,000
Effective Interest rate	5.49%
Maturity Date	2016-01
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	32,700,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	13,100,000	13,500,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/10-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 6.480% [Member] | Commercial Bank [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	17,400,000
Effective Interest rate	6.48%
Maturity Date	2015-05
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	19,900,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	14,500,000	14,500,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/10-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 6.110% [Member] | Commercial Bank [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	12,000,000
Effective Interest rate	6.11%
Maturity Date	2015-07
Collateral	2 MOBs
Investment in Collateral	19,400,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	9,800,000	9,700,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/10-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 7.650% [Member] | Commercial Bank [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	15,200,000
Effective Interest rate	7.65%
Maturity Date	2020-07
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	20,200,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	12,800,000	12,800,000
Principal and interest payments	-15
Mortgage Notes 6.810% [Member] | Life Insurance Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	1,500,000
Effective Interest rate	6.81%
Maturity Date	2016-07
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	2,200,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	1,100,000	1,200,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/9-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 6.430% [Member] | Commercial Bank [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	12,900,000
Effective Interest rate	6.43%
Maturity Date	2021-02
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	20,500,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	11,400,000	11,500,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/12-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 7.250% [Member] | Investment Fund [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	80,000,000
Effective Interest rate	7.25%
Maturity Date	2016-12
Collateral	15 MOBs
Investment in Collateral	154,900,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	78,400,000	79,200,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/30-yr amort.(14)(16)
Mortgage Notes 5.530% [Member] | Life Insurance Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	7,000,000
Effective Interest rate	5.53%
Maturity Date	2018-01
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	14,500,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	3,500,000	4,000,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/15-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 6.550% [Member] | Investment Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	15,900,000
Effective Interest rate	6.55%
Maturity Date	2013-04
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	23,300,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	15,200,000	15,600,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/30-yr amort.(14)(17)
Mortgage Notes 5.250% [Member] | Investment Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	4,600,000
Effective Interest rate	5.25%
Maturity Date	2015-09
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	6,900,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	4,300,000	4,400,000
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/10-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 4.700% [Member] | Life Insurance Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	13,900,000
Effective Interest rate	4.70%
Maturity Date	2016-01
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	26,400,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	12,400,000	0
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/25-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 4.700% [Member] | Life Insurance Company - I [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	21,500,000
Effective Interest rate	4.70%
Maturity Date	2015-08
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	43,800,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	18,800,000	0
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/25-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 5.100% [Member] | Insurance Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	7,300,000
Effective Interest rate	5.10%
Maturity Date	2018-12
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	14,600,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	7,500,000	0
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/25-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 4.540% [Member] | Commercial Bank [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	8,100,000
Effective Interest rate	4.54%
Maturity Date	2016-08
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	15,100,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	7,700,000	0
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/10-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 4.060% [Member] | Life Insurance Co. [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	5,300,000
Effective Interest rate	4.06%
Maturity Date	2014-11
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	11,600,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	4,800,000	0
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/25-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes 4.060% [Member] | Life Insurance Company - I [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Mortgage notes	3,100,000
Effective Interest rate	4.06%
Maturity Date	2014-11
Collateral	MOB
Investment in Collateral	6,700,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	2,800,000	0
Principal and interest payments	Mnthly/25-yr amort.(14)
Mortgage Notes Payable [Member]
Further details of company's mortgage notes payable
Investment in Collateral	452,200,000
Mortgage notes payable carrying amount	$ 221,649,000	$ 170,287,000