Variable Interest Entities - Schedule of Variable Interest Entities (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2026 USD ($)
Senior Living \| Notes and straight-line rent receivable
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	$ 38,319
Maximum exposure to loss	54,819
Senior Living Management \| Note
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	12,000
Maximum exposure to loss	12,000
Bickford \| Notes
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	15,997
Maximum exposure to loss	27,540
Encore Senior Living \| Various
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	52,045
Maximum exposure to loss	63,569
Timber Ridge OpCo
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Maximum exposure to loss	5,000
Timber Ridge OpCo \| Various
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	(5,712)
Maximum exposure to loss, net	(712)
Senior Living Hospitality Group \| Notes and straight-line rent receivable
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	13,249
Maximum exposure to loss	13,773
Montecito Medical Real Estate \| Notes
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	6,629
Maximum exposure to loss	6,629
Vizion Health \| Notes and straight-line rent receivable
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	17,970
Maximum exposure to loss	17,970
Navion Senior Solutions \| Various
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	7,038
Maximum exposure to loss	9,188
Mainstay Healthcare \| Note
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	9,064
Maximum exposure to loss	9,064
Senior Residential Realty LP \| Note
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amounts	5,537
Maximum exposure to loss	$ 5,537

Variable Interest Entity, Reporting Entity Involvement, Carrying Amount

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Variable Interest Entity, Reporting Entity Involvement, Maximum Loss Exposure, Net Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	nhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481203/810-10-50-6

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481203/810-10-50-4

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481203/810-10-50-3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481231/810-10-45-25

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (bb)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481203/810-10-50-3

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481231/810-10-45-25

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration