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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Leasing Costs and EPS (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								55 Months Ended
	May. 31, 2015 community	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community property	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community property segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community property	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community property	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community property item	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community property	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) community property
Revenue Recognition
Percentage rents earned							$ 10,062	$ 10,155	$ 9,226
DEFERRED LEASING COSTS
Unamortized gross balance of deferred leasing costs		$ 21,708	$ 21,708	$ 21,708	$ 21,708	$ 21,708	21,708	5,561		$ 21,708
Accumulated amortization		$ 14,844	14,844	14,844	14,844	14,844	14,844	$ 3,722		14,844
Weighted average amortization period for deferred leasing cost		6 years 9 months 18 days
Expected amortization expense for the five years
Expected amortization expense, 2016		$ 2,853	2,853	2,853	2,853	2,853	2,853			2,853
Expected amortization expense, 2017		2,528	2,528	2,528	2,528	2,528	2,528			2,528
Expected amortization expense, 2018		2,286	2,286	2,286	2,286	2,286	2,286			2,286
Expected amortization expense, 2019		1,968	1,968	1,968	1,968	1,968	1,968			1,968
Expected amortization expense, 2020		1,583	1,583	1,583	1,583	1,583	1,583			1,583
Expected amortization expense, thereafter		$ 4,710	$ 4,710	$ 4,710	$ 4,710	$ 4,710	$ 4,710			$ 4,710
SEGMENT REPORTING
Number of Operating Segments | segment			4
Number of Reportable Segments			3			3
Five Star
Revenue Recognition
Number of properties acquired, referred to as managed properties | community				60
Number of real estate properties leased | community		177	177	177	177	177	177			177
Senior Living Communities
Revenue Recognition
Number of properties acquired or agreed to be acquired | community	37
Senior Living Communities | Five Star
Revenue Recognition
Number of properties acquired or agreed to be acquired | property										55
Number of properties acquired, referred to as managed properties | property					65
Number of real estate properties leased | property		10	10	10	10	10	10			10
Private senior living manager
Revenue Recognition
Number of properties acquired, referred to as managed properties | community				5

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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for deferred leasing costs.

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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for deferred leasing costs.

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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for deferred leasing costs.

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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for deferred leasing costs.

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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for deferred leasing costs.

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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for deferred leasing costs.

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Represents the weighted average amortization period for deferred leasing costs.

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Represents the number of properties acquired or agreed to be acquired by the entity during the period, which are referred by the entity as managed properties.

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For an unclassified balance sheet, the accumulated amortization, as of the reporting date, which represents the periodic charge to earnings of initial direct costs which have been deferred and are being allocated over the lease term in proportion to the recognition of rental income.

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-Publisher FASB
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-SubTopic 20
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For an unclassified balance sheet, this element represents costs incurred by the lessor that are (a) costs to originate a lease incurred in transactions with independent third parties that (i) result directly from and are essential to acquire that lease and (ii) would not have been incurred had that leasing transaction not occurred and (b) certain costs directly related to specified activities performed by the lessor for that lease. Those activities are: evaluating the prospective lessee's financial condition; evaluating and recording guarantees, collateral, and other security arrangements; negotiating lease terms; preparing and processing lease documents; and closing the transaction. This amount is before considering accumulated amortization representing the periodic charge to earnings to recognize the deferred costs over the term of the related lease.

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Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues.

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This element represents the rental revenue earned during the period from lessee-operators based on revenues generated in their operations, generally in excess of a base amount. Such rental revenue is generally stipulated in the lease agreement, usually will provide for a fixed percentage of revenue to be paid as additional (or possibly only) rent due the lessor, and may be based on gross revenues, net revenues, or multiple variations thereof. Percentage rent is often required under leases with retail outlets located on premises owned by hoteliers, cruise lines, others in the hospitality industry, and shopping mall operators, among others.

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The number of units (items of property) under operating lease arrangements.

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