This item represents the minimum rate a lease payment escalates each year.

No definition available.

Name:	nhi_LeaseEscalatorMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Lessee, Number of Leases Assigned to New Operator

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LesseeNumberOfLeasesAssignedToNewOperator
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Lessee, Operating Lease, Number of Contract Renewals

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_LesseeOperatingLeaseNumberOfContractRenewals
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Rental Income, Annual Rent Income

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nhi_RentalIncomeAnnualRentIncome
Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest, of allowance for credit loss on financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479344/326-20-45-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossExcludingAccruedInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease renewal, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478964/842-20-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 976
-SubTopic 310
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477332/976-310-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value of collateral received that was taken through foreclosure due to default by the original transferor in lieu of collection of the secured receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481990/310-10-45-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralAmountForeclosed
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=nhi_MezzanineMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MajorCustomersAxis=nhi_SeniorLivingManagementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Investment Activity (Senior Living Management Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2025 USD ($) contractRenewal lease	Feb. 28, 2025 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2025 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($)
Real Estate [Line Items]
Operating lease term			7 years
Renewal term			5 years
Rental income, annual rent income		$ 700
Credit loss reserve			$ 15,443	$ 20,249
Mezzanine loans:
Real Estate [Line Items]
Credit loss reserve		8,600	$ 1,400
SLM
Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of Leases \| lease	2
Operating lease term	15 years
Number of contracts \| contractRenewal	2
Renewal term	5 years
Rental income, annual rent income	$ 1,100
Lease escalator minimum	2.00%
SLM \| Mezzanine loans:
Real Estate [Line Items]
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net of reserve		$ 10,000