Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Details)			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) Derivative	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) Derivative	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) Derivative	Jan. 31, 2015 Facility	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 Facility	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Facility	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jan. 11, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 08, 2014 USD ($) Derivative	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) Derivative
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Reduction in provision for doubtful accounts								$ 12,900,000
Provision for doubtful accounts								52,460,000	$ 41,803,000	$ 44,640,000
Due to third party payors					$ 36,251,000			36,251,000	43,957,000
Depreciation expense								127,400,000	133,900,000	130,800,000
Capitalized interest cost								500,000		100,000
Impairment charges							$ 76,100,000	$ 24,757,000		77,193,000
Impairment charges, net of tax							$ 58,300,000
Reduction in episode payment rate								2.80%
Amortization expense								$ 29,900,000	21,700,000	22,100,000
Number of hospitals directed by the manager | Facility								12
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Number of hospitals operated | Facility				11
Additional number of hospital operated | Facility						2
Interest Rate Swap
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Applicable margin		1.00%
Number of interest rate swaps | Derivative		1										2	2
Term loan facility, amount outstanding		$ 400,000,000										$ 125,000,000	$ 225,000,000
Term loan facility, expiry date		Apr. 09, 2018
Term loan facility, fixed interest rate		1.867%											1.8925%
Interest Rate Swap | Subsequent event
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Applicable margin			1.00%
Number of interest rate swaps | Derivative	3		3
Term loan facility, amount outstanding	$ 325,000,000		$ 325,000,000
Term loan facility, expiry date			Jan. 09, 2021
Term Loan Facility
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Term loan facility, effective date								Jan. 11, 2016
Term Loan Facility | Interest Rate Swap
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Term loan facility, expiry date								Jan. 11, 2016
Term Loan Facility | Interest Rate Swap | January 11, 2016 agreement
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Term loan facility, expiry date								Jan. 09, 2021
Term Loan Facility | Interest Rate Swap | Subsequent event
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Number of interest rate swaps | Derivative	2		2
Term loan facility, amount outstanding	$ 325,000,000		$ 325,000,000								$ 225,000,000
Term Loan Facility | Interest rate swap one | Subsequent event
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Term loan facility, amount outstanding	$ 175,000,000		$ 175,000,000
Term loan facility, fixed interest rate	1.862%		1.862%
Term Loan Facility | Interest rate swap two | Subsequent event
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Term loan facility, amount outstanding	$ 150,000,000		$ 150,000,000
Term loan facility, fixed interest rate	1.855%		1.855%
Certificates Of Need
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Impairment charges								$ 0	0	0
Home health and hospice acquisitions
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Impairment charges								6,700,000
Step one impairment test
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill								$ 0	0
Nursing And Rehabilitation Centers
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Impairment charges										1,100,000
Impairment charges, net of tax									700,000	700,000
RehabCare
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Impairment charges					18,000,000
Minimum | Term Loan Facility | Interest Rate Swap
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Applicable margin								1.00%
Minimum | Term Loan Facility | Interest Rate Swap | Subsequent event
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Applicable margin	1.00%
Minimum | Hospital Rehabilitation Services
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of intangible assets								1 year
Maximum | Term Loan Facility | Interest Rate Swap
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Applicable margin								1.50%
Maximum | Hospital Rehabilitation Services
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of intangible assets								20 years
Technology And Medical Equipment
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Increase to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes								$ 14,000,000
Increase to income (loss) from continuing operations net of income taxes								$ 8,000,000
Technology And Medical Equipment | Minimum
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life								2 years
Technology And Medical Equipment | Maximum
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life								3 years
Building | Minimum
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life								20 years
Building | Maximum
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life								45 years
Equipment | Minimum
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life								5 years
Equipment | Maximum
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Property and equipment, useful life								15 years
Gentiva CIA
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Due to third party payors					7,800,000			$ 7,800,000
Continuing Operations
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts								55,000,000	31,100,000	$ 25,900,000
Amount Reclassified To Account Payable
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit					46,700,000			46,700,000	43,500,000
Amount Reclassified To Salaries Wages And Compensation
Principal Accounting Policies And Basis Of Preparation [Line Items]
Outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit					$ 3,600,000			$ 3,600,000	$ 3,300,000