Represents the number of real estate properties acquired by the borrower that are mortgaged under the mortgage loan.

No definition available.

Name:	snh_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfPropertiesAcquiredByBorrowerMortgaged
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of real estate properties owned by the borrower that are mortgaged under the mortgage loan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	snh_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateNumberOfPropertiesOwnedByBorrowerMortgaged
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of properties agreed to be acquired by the borrower under purchase and sales agreements during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	snh_NumberOfPropertiesAgreedToBeAcquiredByBorrower
Namespace Prefix:	snh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of interest income and other income recognized during the period. Included in this element is interest derived from investments in debt securities, cash and cash equivalents, and other investments which reflect the time value of money or transactions in which the payments are for the use or forbearance of money and other income from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the outstanding balance due under the mortgage loan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882300&loc=d3e5864-122674

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCarryingAmountOfMortgages
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the contractual principal due at the origination of the mortgage loan (face amount).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The stated interest rate on the mortgage loan receivable or the weighted average interest rate on a group of loans.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

Related Person Transactions (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Five Star	May 31, 2011 Five Star	May 31, 2011 Five Star Senior living communities Property	Dec. 31, 2011 Five Star Senior living communities Property
Related person transactions
Amount agreed to be lent under Bridge Loan Agreement					$ 80,000
Number of properties funded under Bridge Loan						6
Number of properties mortgaged, acquired by borrower							3
Number of properties mortgaged, owned by borrower							4
Spread over annual rates of interest applicable to borrowings under revolving credit facility (as a percent)				1.00%
Interest rate (as a percent)				2.90%
Amount outstanding under Bridge Loan				38,000
Interest income recognized	$ 1,451	$ 844	$ 935	$ 593