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Real Estate Properties - Schedule of Senior Living Community Acquisitions (Details) $ in Thousands |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 09, 2017 USD ($) property | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) living_unit community | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) property | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) living_unit | May 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) living_unit property | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) living_unit property | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) living_unit property | Nov. 30, 2017 pooling_agreement | Jun. 29, 2016 community | Feb. 28, 2016 USD ($) management_agreement
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  | $ 775,935 |  |  |  |  | $ 791,067 | $ 775,935 |  |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ (181,433) |  |  |
Senior Living Communities | 4 States |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  | $ 112,350 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 | 39 |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  | 709 |  | 84 |  |  |  | 709 | 3,563 |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 139,494 | $ 818,236 |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  | $ 3,723 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,723 | 130,305 |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (18,091) |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (151,477) |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ (858) |  |  |
Purchase price excluding closing costs |  |  |  | $ 18,250 | $ 9,750 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans Assumed | $ 33,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (1,000)
Number of management agreements | management_agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 2 States | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  |  |  |  |  |  | 229 |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 39,457 |  |  |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,774 |  |  |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Georgia | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 | 0 |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  | 38 |  |  |  |  |  | 38 | 40 |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 8,400 | $ 9,750 |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  | $ 1,400 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,400 | 161 |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Georgia | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 84 |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,409 |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 4 States | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  | 545 |  |  |  |  |  | 545 |  |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 112,493 |  |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Illinois | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  | 126 |  |  |  |  |  | 126 |  |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,601 |  |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  | $ 2,323 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,323 |  |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 11 States | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18 |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,119 |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 459,184 |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 54,096 |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18,091) |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (44,395) |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (1,125) |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 5 States | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19 |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,233 |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 313,345 |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 73,840 |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (94,785) |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 832 |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | NC | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 87 |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 17,548 |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,208 |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (12,297) |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (565) |  |  |
Acquisitions | Senior Living Community Subtotal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38 |  |  |
Units | living_unit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,439 |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 790,077 |  |  |
Acquired Real Estate Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 130,144 |  |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18,091) |  |  |
Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  | $ (151,477) |  |  | (151,477) |  |  |
(Premium)/Discount on Assumed Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (858) |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,226 | 47,589 |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 2 States | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,055 |  |  |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Georgia | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 327 | 993 |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Georgia | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,479 |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 4 States | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11,085 |  |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Illinois | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,814 |  |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 11 States | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29,716 |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 5 States | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,267 |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | NC | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,134 |  |  |
Land | Acquisitions | Senior Living Community Subtotal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43,117 |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 114,512 | 623,474 |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 2 States | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26,424 |  |  |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Georgia | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,195 | 8,169 |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Georgia | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,021 |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 4 States | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 94,940 |  |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Illinois | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,377 |  |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 11 States | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 373,471 |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 5 States | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 214,064 |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | NC | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,749 |  |  |
Buildings and Improvements | Acquisitions | Senior Living Community Subtotal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 601,284 |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,033 | 35,817 |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 2 States | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,204 |  |  |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Georgia | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 478 | 427 |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Georgia | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 909 |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 4 States | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,468 |  |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | Illinois | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,087 |  |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 11 States | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21,117 |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | 5 States | Managed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,342 |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities | NC | Leased |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,022 |  |  |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | Acquisitions | Senior Living Community Subtotal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 34,481 |  |  |
Five Star | Senior Living Communities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of management agreements | community |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 |
Five Star | Senior Living Communities | Illinois |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | community |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid plus assumed debt |  | $ 18,600 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Five Star | Acquisitions | Senior Living Communities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Properties | property | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of management agreements | pooling_agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Purchase price excluding closing costs | $ 104,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition The amount of premium on assumed debt that an Entity assumes in acquiring a business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionPremiumOnDebtAssumed1
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of properties acquired or agreed to be acquired by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Management Agreements + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_NumberofManagementAgreements
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the aggregate purchase price excluding acquisition costs of real estate properties acquired or agreed to be acquired by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_RealEstateAggregatePurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the aggregate purchase price of real estate properties acquired by the entity during the period. This amount includes cash paid plus debt assumed, if any, and other settlement adjustments but excludes closing costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_RealEstateAggregatePurchasePriceIncludingOtherSettlementAdjustments
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the intangible lease assets recorded as part of the real estate acquisition. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_RealEstatePropertiesAcquiredIntangibleLeaseAssets
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the other liabilities recorded related to real estate property acquisitions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_RealEstatePropertiesAcquiredOtherLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the property plant and equipment assets recorded as part of the real estate acquisition. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snh_RealEstatePropertiesAcquiredPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | snh_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
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