Quarterly Consolidated Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,780,949	$ 1,764,516	$ 1,833,475	$ 1,675,967	$ 1,264,674	$ 1,228,918	$ 1,261,397	$ 1,272,610	$ 7,054,907	$ 5,027,599	$ 4,775,235
Net income (loss):
Income (loss) from continuing operations	55,984	(6,969)	33,710	(134,588)	(4,803)	7,222	(20,450)	22,927	(51,863)	4,896	(40,633)
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes:
Income (loss) from operations	1,509	2,269	(589)	(3,424)	(28,743)	(8,677)	(8,768)	(7,442)	(235)	(53,630)	(40,315)
Gain (loss) on divestiture of operations	261		983		(9,061)	1,387	(2,018)	(3,006)	1,244	(12,698)	(83,887)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	1,770	2,269	394	(3,424)	(37,804)	(7,290)	(10,786)	(10,448)	1,009	(66,328)	(124,202)
Net loss	57,754	(4,700)	34,104	(138,012)	(42,607)	(68)	(31,236)	12,479	(50,854)	(61,432)	(164,835)
(Earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Continuing operations	(12,082)	(9,900)	(11,735)	(8,847)	(5,143)	(4,372)	(4,828)	(4,529)	42,564	18,872	3,890
Discontinued operations	2	1	2	29	66	78	253	70	(34)	(467)	(233)
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12,080)	(9,899)	(11,733)	(8,818)	(5,077)	(4,294)	(4,575)	(4,459)	(42,530)	(18,405)	(3,657)
Income (loss) attributable to Kindred	$ 45,674	$ (14,599)	$ 22,371	$ (146,830)	$ (47,684)	$ (4,362)	$ (35,811)	$ 8,020	$ (93,384)	$ (79,837)	$ (168,492)
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations	$ 0.50	$ (0.20)	$ 0.25	$ (1.80)	$ (0.15)	$ 0.04	$ (0.47)	$ 0.34	$ (1.12)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.85)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations	0.02	0.03	(0.01)	(0.04)	(0.44)	(0.13)	(0.16)	(0.13)
Gain (loss) on divestiture of operations			0.01		(0.14)	0.02	(0.04)	(0.06)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0.02	0.03		(0.04)	(0.58)	(0.11)	(0.20)	(0.19)		(0.91)	(0.77)
Net income (loss)	0.52	(0.17)	0.25	(1.84)	(0.73)	(0.07)	(0.67)	0.15	(1.11)	(1.36)	(3.23)
Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations, Diluted	0.50	(0.20)	0.25	(1.80)	(0.15)	0.04	(0.47)	0.34	(1.12)	(0.24)	(0.85)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations	0.02	0.03	(0.01)	(0.04)	(0.44)	(0.13)	(0.16)	(0.13)
Gain (loss) on divestiture of operations			0.01		(0.14)	0.02	(0.04)	(0.06)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0.02	0.03		(0.04)	(0.58)	(0.11)	(0.20)	(0.19)		(0.91)	(0.77)
Net income (loss)	$ 0.52	$ (0.17)	$ 0.25	$ (1.84)	$ (0.73)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.67)	$ 0.15	$ (1.11)	$ (1.36)	$ (3.23)
Shares used in computing earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic	86,336	86,184	86,045	79,575	65,135	62,863	53,714	52,641	84,558	58,634	52,249
Diluted	87,232	86,184	86,402	79,575	65,135	62,902	53,714	52,711	84,558	58,634	52,249
Market prices:
High	$ 15.75	$ 23.36	$ 24.66	$ 24.65	$ 22.12	$ 24.94	$ 26.81	$ 23.57
Low	$ 11.12	$ 15.61	$ 20.25	$ 16.94	$ 17.72	$ 18.80	$ 21.74	$ 17.59