| 
           ACQUISITIONS IN 2013 - Senior Housing Assets (Details) (USD $) 
        In Thousands, unless otherwise specified  | 
        12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Dec. 31, 2013 
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      ||||||||||
| 
           Managed Properties 
         | 
        ||||||||||
| Allocation Of Purchase Price | ||||||||||
| Investments in Real Estate | $ 268,010 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Resident Lease Intangibles | 31,673 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Non-compete Intangibles | 1,000 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Land Lease Intangibles | [1],[2] | |||||||||
| PILOT Intangibles | 3,700 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Other intangibles | 500 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Assumed Mortgage Notes Payable | (43,128) | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Other Assets, net of Other Liabilities | (2,157) | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Subtotal | 259,598 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Mortgage notes payable | (175,871) | [3] | ||||||||
| Net assets acquired | 83,727 | |||||||||
| Total acquisition related costs | 6,118 | [4] | ||||||||
| 
           Holiday Portfolio 
         | 
        ||||||||||
| Allocation Of Purchase Price | ||||||||||
| Investments in Real Estate | 937,548 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Resident Lease Intangibles | 57,883 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Non-compete Intangibles | [1],[2] | |||||||||
| Land Lease Intangibles | 3,498 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| PILOT Intangibles | [1],[2] | |||||||||
| Other intangibles | 1,546 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Assumed Mortgage Notes Payable | [1],[2] | |||||||||
| Other Assets, net of Other Liabilities | [1],[2] | |||||||||
| Subtotal | 1,000,475 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Mortgage notes payable | (719,350) | [3] | ||||||||
| Net assets acquired | 281,125 | |||||||||
| Total acquisition related costs | 3,604 | [4] | ||||||||
| 
           Senior Living Assets 
         | 
        ||||||||||
| Allocation Of Purchase Price | ||||||||||
| Investments in Real Estate | 1,205,558 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Resident Lease Intangibles | 89,556 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Non-compete Intangibles | 1,000 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Land Lease Intangibles | 3,498 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| PILOT Intangibles | 3,700 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Other intangibles | 2,046 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Assumed Mortgage Notes Payable | (43,128) | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Other Assets, net of Other Liabilities | (2,157) | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Subtotal | 1,260,073 | [1],[2] | ||||||||
| Mortgage notes payable | (895,221) | [3] | ||||||||
| Net assets acquired | 364,852 | |||||||||
| Total acquisition related costs | $ 9,722 | [4] | ||||||||
          
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Details 
          
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount recognized for assets, including goodwill, in excess of (less than) the aggregate current liabilities assumed. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount of Land Lease Intangibles acquired. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount of PILOT Intangibles acquired. No definition available. 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount of assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, acquired at the acquisition date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount of liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the identifiable assets acquired in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Amount of long-term debt due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition 
          Amount of real estate investment property, net of accumulated depreciation, which may include the following: (1) land available-for-sale; (2) land available-for-development; (3) investments in building and building improvements; (4) tenant allowances; (5) developments in-process; (6) rental properties; and (7) other real estate investments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
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