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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Investment in available for sale securities |  |
Fair value of the investments in available for sale securities | $ 23,993 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities | $ 29,078 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
CommonWealth REIT (EQC) |  |
Investment in available for sale securities |  |
Investment in common shares | 250,000 us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedBalanceShares / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_CommonWealthREITMember |
Weighted average quoted market prices (in dollars per share) | $ 25.67 snh_InvestmentWeightedAverageCostPerShare / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_CommonWealthREITMember | $ 26.00 snh_InvestmentWeightedAverageCostPerShare / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_CommonWealthREITMember
Fair value of the investments in available for sale securities | 6,418 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_CommonWealthREITMember | 5,828 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_CommonWealthREITMember
Unrealized loss | 83 snh_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInInvestments / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_CommonWealthREITMember | 673 snh_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInInvestments / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_CommonWealthREITMember
Five Star |  |
Investment in available for sale securities |  |
Investment in common shares | 4,235,000 us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedBalanceShares / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember |
Percentage of common shares owned | 8.60%snh_InvestmentOwnedPercentageOfTotalSharesOutstanding / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember |
Weighted average quoted market prices (in dollars per share) | $ 4.15 snh_InvestmentWeightedAverageCostPerShare / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember | $ 3.36 snh_InvestmentWeightedAverageCostPerShare / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember
Fair value of the investments in available for sale securities | 17,575 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember | 23,250 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember
Unrealized gain | $ 3,361 snh_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInInvestments / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember | $ 9,036 snh_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInInvestments / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember

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