SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
item
Dec. 31, 2012
item
Dec. 31, 2011
item
Dec. 31, 2012
Christopher Brogdon, the Company's Vice Chairman
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2011
Christopher Brogdon, the Company's Vice Chairman
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2012
Northwest
Dec. 28, 2012
Northwest
Jan. 31, 2012
HUD term loan
Dec. 31, 2012
HUD term loan
Dec. 28, 2012
HUD term loan
Ohio ALF
Dec. 28, 2012
PrivateBank
Sep. 20, 2012
PrivateBank
Oct. 26, 2012
PrivateBank
Nov. 30, 2011
Convertible debt issued in 2010, net of discount
Jul. 31, 2011
Convertible debt issued in 2010, net of discount
Oct. 29, 2010
Convertible debt issued in 2010, net of discount
Oct. 26, 2010
Convertible debt issued in 2010, net of discount
Dec. 31, 2012
Convertible debt issued in 2010, net of discount
Apr. 17, 2013
Subsequent event
Christopher Brogdon, the Company's Vice Chairman
Jan. 25, 2013
Subsequent event
PrivateBank
item
Apr. 25, 2012
Subsequent event
Convertible debt issued in 2010, net of discount
May 30, 2013
Subsequent event
Northwest Credit Facility
Jun. 07, 2013
Subsequent event
Series A Preferred Stock
Mar. 08, 2013
Subsequent event
Series A Preferred Stock
Feb. 28, 2013
Subsequent event
Sale Agreement
Lincoln Lodge Retirement Residence
CHP
May 06, 2013
Subsequent event
Sale Agreement
Ohio ALF
Feb. 28, 2013
Subsequent event
Sale Agreement
HUD term loan
Lincoln Lodge Retirement Residence
CHP
Jun. 30, 2013
Subsequent event
Termination of Purchase and Sale Agreement
Avalon PSA
Jun. 02, 2013
Subsequent event
Termination of Purchase and Sale Agreement
Avalon PSA
Feb. 15, 2013
Subsequent event
Termination of Purchase and Sale Agreement
Avalon PSA
Bethany Health and Rehab
item
Feb. 15, 2013
Subsequent event
Termination of Purchase and Sale Agreement
Avalon PSA
Trevecca Health and Rehab
item
May 31, 2013
Subsequent event
CHP Note
Jun. 20, 2013
Subsequent event
CHP Note
CHP
Jun. 22, 2013
Subsequent event
Riverchase Management Agreement Termination
Jun. 28, 2013
Subsequent event
Joinder
New Gemino Borrowers
Jun. 28, 2013
Subsequent event
Joinder
New Gemino Borrowers
Revolving credit facility
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS                                                                        
Number of skilled nursing facilities 35 46                                   3                                
Number of subsidiaries released from debt liability                                       3                                
Payment in exchange of release from liability                   $ 6,400,000 $ 700,000                                           $ 3,240,000      
Number of beds under skilled nursing facility acquired 3,804 3,804                                                       180 240          
Refund of amount deposited into escrow account     3,172,000                                                   400,000              
Acquisition costs                                                       500,000                
Dividend per share (in dollars per share)                                             $ 0.68 $ 0.68                        
Dividend rate (as a percent)                                             10.875% 10.875%                        
Liquidation preference (in dollars per share)                                             25.00 25.00                        
Percentage of common stock beneficially owned by Christopher Brogdon       10.00% 10.00%                                                              
Period within which advisors advise stockholders about tender offer after commencement of offer                                     10 days                                  
Conversion of debt to equity     150,000                             200,000     300,000                              
Conversion price one (in dollar per share)                             $ 4.13           $ 3.73                              
Conversion price two (in dollar per share)                           $ 3.73             $ 4.79                              
Number of shares converted, one                             18,160           73,669                              
Number of shares converted, two                           19,132             10,438                              
Aggregate purchase price                                                 2,400,000 3,600,000                    
Cash consideration                                                 400,000                      
Aggregate principal amount of debt to be repaid                                                     1,900,000                  
Number of skilled nursing facilities acquired   11 15                                                                  
Aggregate purchase price for acquiring the businesses           3,000,000 3,000,000                                                          
Senior-secured revolving credit facility                       10,600,000 10,600,000             10,600,000   1,000,000                         1,000,000  
Spread on floating interest rate (as a percent)                       1.00%                   4.75%                            
Floating interest rate, basis                       Prime                   LIBOR                            
Monitoring fee as a percentage of outstanding balance                                           1.00%                            
Monitoring fee as a percentage of unused portion                                           0.50%                            
Prepayment penalties (as a percent)                 8.00%                         1.00%                            
Note receivable                                                               3,600,000        
Threshold value for determining whether the entity is entitled to receive payments of principal                                                               2,000,000        
Term of contract                                                                   5 years    
Monthly fees (as a percent)                                                                   5.00%    
Promissory note issued               $ 3,700,000               $ 800,000 $ 11,100,000                                     $ 1,500,000