CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 228,397	$ 234,452	$ 233,128
Expenses:
Residence operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization and residence lease expense shown below)	154,194	136,659	139,689
General and administrative	19,822	13,361	15,080
Residence lease expense	13,369	17,686	19,846
Lease termination and settlement	37,430	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	24,915	23,103	22,806
Impairment of intangibles	8,650	0	0
Impairment of long-lived asset	3,500	0	0
Transaction costs	1,046	0	0
Total operating expenses	262,926	190,809	197,421
(Loss)/income from operations	(34,529)	43,643	35,707
Other (expense) income:
Gain on sale of securities	257	956	23
Other-than-temporary investments impairment	0	0	(2,026)
Interest expense:
Debt	(8,143)	(7,872)	(7,782)
Write-off of deferred financing fees	(1,137)	(279)	0
Interest income	9	12	11
(Loss)/income from operations before income taxes	(43,543)	36,460	25,933
Income tax benefit/(expense)	17,418	(12,100)	(9,449)
Net (loss)/income	$ (26,125)	$ 24,360	$ 16,484
Weighted average common shares:
Basic (in shares)	22,970	22,955	23,080
Diluted (in shares)	22,970	23,256	23,412
Basic (loss)/earnings per common share:
Net (loss)/income (in dollars per share)	$ (1.14)	$ 1.06	$ 0.71
Diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation:
Net (loss)/income (in dollars per share)	$ (1.14)	$ 1.05	$ 0.70
Dividends declared and paid per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.30	$ 0