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Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies (Details) | Sep. 30, 2017
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Variable Interest Entity Number Of Entities Not Primary Beneficiary | 8
Debt Instrument, Name, Convertible Senior Notes [Member] |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 3.25%

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- Definition Number of Variable Interest Entities (VIE) or potential VIEs for which it is determined that the reporting entity is not the primary beneficiary. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | nhi_
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- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |