Organization and Nature of Business	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Nature of Business	Organization and Nature of BusinessNational Health Investors, Inc. (“NHI,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), established in 1991 as a Maryland corporation, is a self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) specializing in sale-leaseback, joint venture, mortgage and mezzanine financing of need-driven and discretionary senior housing and medical facility investments. We operate through two reportable segments: Real Estate Investments and Senior Housing Operating Portfolio (“SHOP”). Our Real Estate Investments segment consists of lease, mortgage and other note investments in independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, entrance-fee communities, senior living campuses, skilled nursing facilities and a hospital. As of June 30, 2022, we had investments of approximately $2.4 billion in 168 health care real estate properties located in 33 states and leased pursuant primarily to triple-net leases to 25 lessees consisting of 102 senior housing communities (“SHO”), 65 skilled nursing facilities and one hospital, excluding 13 properties classified as assets held for sale. Our portfolio of 13 mortgages along with other notes receivable totaled $209.5 million, excluding an allowance for expected credit losses of $5.2 million, as of June 30, 2022. Our SHOP segment is comprised of two ventures that own the operations of independent living facilities (“ILF”). As of June 30, 2022, we had investments of approximately $335.5 million in 15 properties with a combined 1,731 units located in eight states that are operated on behalf of the Company by two independent managers pursuant to the terms of separate management agreements that commenced April 1, 2022. The third-party managers, or related affiliates of the managers, own equity interests in the respective ventures.

Organization and Nature of Business

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Nature of BusinessNational Health Investors, Inc. (“NHI,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), established in 1991 as a Maryland corporation, is a self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”) specializing in sale-leaseback, joint venture, mortgage and mezzanine financing of need-driven and discretionary senior housing and medical facility investments. We operate through two reportable segments: Real Estate Investments and Senior Housing Operating Portfolio (“SHOP”). Our Real Estate Investments segment consists of lease, mortgage and other note investments in independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, entrance-fee communities, senior living campuses, skilled nursing facilities and a hospital. As of June 30, 2022, we had investments of approximately $2.4 billion in 168 health care real estate properties located in 33 states and leased pursuant primarily to triple-net leases to 25 lessees consisting of 102 senior housing communities (“SHO”), 65 skilled nursing facilities and one hospital, excluding 13 properties classified as assets held for sale. Our portfolio of 13 mortgages along with other notes receivable totaled $209.5 million, excluding an allowance for expected credit losses of $5.2 million, as of June 30, 2022. Our SHOP segment is comprised of two ventures that own the operations of independent living facilities (“ILF”). As of June 30, 2022, we had investments of approximately $335.5 million in 15 properties with a combined 1,731 units located in eight states that are operated on behalf of the Company by two independent managers pursuant to the terms of separate management agreements that commenced April 1, 2022. The third-party managers, or related affiliates of the managers, own equity interests in the respective ventures.