XML 54 R33.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 05, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Investment in available for sale securities |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets |  | $ 2,795 | $ 18,674 | $ 194 | $ (10)
Fair value of the investments in available for sale securities |  | $ 115,612 | $ 115,612 | $ 51,472 |
Five Star |  |  |  |  |
Investment in available for sale securities |  |  |  |  |
Investment in common shares |  | 4,235,000 | 4,235,000 | 4,235,000 |
Impairment of assets |  | $ 2,795 |  |  |
Weighted average quoted market prices (in dollars per share) |  |  | $ 2.70 |  |
Fair value of the investments in available for sale securities |  | $ 11,435 | $ 11,435 | $ 13,467 |
Unrealized loss |  |  |  | 747 |
The RMR Group Inc |  |  |  |  |
Investment in available for sale securities |  |  |  |  |
Investment in common shares |  | 2,637,408 | 2,637,408 |  |
Fair value of the investments in available for sale securities |  | $ 104,178 | $ 104,178 | 38,005 |
Unrealized loss |  |  |  | $ 31,821 |
Unrealized gain |  | 34,352 | 34,352 |  |
Amount of investment acquired |  | $ 69,826 | $ 69,826 |  |
The RMR Group Inc | Class A common shares |  |  |  |  |
Investment in available for sale securities |  |  |  |  |
Investment in common shares |  | 2,637,408 | 2,637,408 | 2,937,408 |
RMR Inc. | Up C Transaction |  |  |  |  |
Investment in available for sale securities |  |  |  |  |
Amount of investment acquired | $ 60,700 |  |  |  |
Fair value of investment | $ 136,278 |  |  |  |
Investment, difference between carrying value and fair value |  |  | $ 3,772 | $ 2,145 |
Unamortized liability for excess of fair value to carrying value |  | $ 71,933 | $ 71,933 |  |
Class A common shares | RMR Inc. | Up C Transaction |  |  |  |  |
Investment in available for sale securities |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares acquired (in shares) | 5,272,787 |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated unrealized gain before deducting unrealized loss on investments in available-for-sale securities impacting investments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated unrealized loss before deducting unrealized gain on investments in available-for-sale securities impacting investments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amortization of the difference between the carrying amount of the cost method investment and its fair value for the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_CostMethodInvestmentAmortizationOfDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlying
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number shares acquired which have been accounted under cost method of accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_CostMethodOfInvestmentSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the initial other liabilities recorded which is the difference of the total consideration paid and the fair market value of the investment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_InitialOtherLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the weighted average cost per common share of investments on the date of acquisition. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_InvestmentWeightedAverageCostPerShare
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2420-110228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65884222&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27232-111563 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66010992&loc=d3e26610-111562 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Original amount of cost-method investments at the acquisition date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsOriginalCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Balance held at close of period in number of shares. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611225-123010 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611322-123010 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 320 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12.Column B) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50485924&loc=d3e611133-123010 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentOwnedBalanceShares
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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 No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=snh_FiveStarQualityCareIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=snh_RmrGroupIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=snh_ReitManagementAndResearchIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=snh_UpCTransactionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |