CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands										3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 11, 2015	Sep. 04, 2015	Jun. 10, 2015	Apr. 01, 2015	Dec. 09, 2014	Sep. 10, 2014	Jun. 11, 2014	Mar. 27, 2014	Sep. 09, 2013	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, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [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
Salaries, wages and benefits																			3,614,091	2,442,879	2,364,138
Supplies																			384,354	289,043	286,266
Rent																			382,609	313,039	302,192
Other operating expenses																			825,996	679,992	633,906
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense included below)																			1,395,288	973,223	875,770
Other income																			(3,016)	(872)	(861)
Litigation contingency expense																			138,648	4,600	30,850
Impairment charges																		$ 76,100	24,757		77,193
Depreciation and amortization																			157,251	155,570	152,945
Interest expense																			232,395	168,763	108,008
Investment income																			(2,806)	(3,996)	(4,046)
Operating expenses																			7,149,567	5,022,241	4,826,361
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes																			(94,660)	5,358	(51,126)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes										47,000									(42,797)	462	(10,493)
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:
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) loss 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)
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)
Amounts attributable to Kindred stockholders:
Loss from continuing operations																			(94,427)	(13,976)	(44,523)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations																			1,043	(65,861)	(123,969)
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:
Loss from operations										0.02	0.03		(0.04)	(0.58)	(0.11)	(0.20)	(0.19)			(0.91)	(0.77)
Gain (loss) on divestiture of operations																			0.01	(0.21)	(1.61)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations																			0.01	(1.12)	(2.38)
Net 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										0.50	(0.20)	0.25	(1.80)	(0.15)	0.04	(0.47)	0.34		(1.12)	(0.24)	(0.85)
Discontinued operations:
Loss from operations										0.02	0.03		(0.04)	(0.58)	(0.11)	(0.20)	(0.19)			(0.91)	(0.77)
Gain (loss) on divestiture of operations																			0.01	(0.21)	(1.61)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations																			0.01	(1.12)	(2.38)
Net 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 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
Cash dividends declared and paid per common share	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12										$ 0.48	$ 0.48	$ 0.24