Computation of Loss Per Common Share (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
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Loss from continuing operations, as reported in Statement of Operations									$ (94,427)	$ (13,976)	$ (44,523)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, as reported in Statement of Operations	$ 1,509	$ 2,269	$ (589)	$ (3,424)	$ (28,743)	$ (8,677)	$ (8,768)	$ (7,442)	(235)	(53,630)	(40,315)
Income (loss) attributable to Kindred									1,043	(65,861)	(123,969)
Loss on divestiture, net of income taxes	261		983		(9,061)	1,387	(2,018)	(3,006)	1,244	(12,698)	(83,887)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations as reported in Statement of Operations	1,770	2,269	394	(3,424)	(37,804)	(7,290)	(10,786)	(10,448)	1,009	(66,328)	(124,202)
Net loss	$ 45,674	$ (14,599)	$ 22,371	$ (146,830)	$ (47,684)	$ (4,362)	$ (35,811)	$ 8,020	$ (93,384)	$ (79,837)	$ (168,492)
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic computation	86,336	86,184	86,045	79,575	65,135	62,863	53,714	52,641	84,558	58,634	52,249
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding – diluted computation	87,232	86,184	86,402	79,575	65,135	62,902	53,714	52,711	84,558	58,634	52,249
Loss from continuing operations, Basic	$ 0.50	$ (0.20)	$ 0.25	$ (1.80)	$ (0.15)	$ 0.04	$ (0.47)	$ 0.34	$ (1.12)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.85)
Loss from operations, Basic	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)
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)
Loss from operations, Diluted	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)
Earnings Per Share, Basic
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Loss from continuing operations, as reported in Statement of Operations									$ (94,427)	$ (13,976)	$ (44,523)
Loss from continuing operations, available to common stockholders									(94,427)	(13,976)	(44,523)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, as reported in Statement of Operations									(201)	(53,163)	(40,082)
Income (loss) attributable to Kindred									(201)	(53,163)	(40,082)
Loss on divestiture, net of income taxes									1,244	(12,698)	(83,887)
Loss on divestiture of operations, available to common stockholders									1,244	(12,698)	(83,887)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations as reported in Statement of Operations									1,043	(65,861)	(123,969)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, available to common stockholders									1,043	(65,861)	(123,969)
Net loss									(93,384)	(79,837)	(168,492)
Net loss, available to common stockholders, Basic									$ (93,384)	$ (79,837)	$ (168,492)
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic computation									84,558	58,634	52,249
Loss from continuing operations, Basic									$ (1.12)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.85)
Loss from operations, Basic										(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									$ (1.11)	$ (1.36)	$ (3.23)
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Loss from continuing operations, as reported in Statement of Operations									$ (94,427)	$ (13,976)	$ (44,523)
Loss from continuing operations, available to common stockholders									(94,427)	(13,976)	(44,523)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, as reported in Statement of Operations									(201)	(53,163)	(40,082)
Income (loss) attributable to Kindred									(201)	(53,163)	(40,082)
Loss on divestiture, net of income taxes									1,244	(12,698)	(83,887)
Loss on divestiture of operations, available to common stockholders									1,244	(12,698)	(83,887)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations as reported in Statement of Operations									1,043	(65,861)	(123,969)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, available to common stockholders									1,043	(65,861)	(123,969)
Net loss									(93,384)	(79,837)	(168,492)
Net loss, available to common stockholders, Basic									$ (93,384)	$ (79,837)	$ (168,492)
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic computation									84,558	58,634	52,249
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding – diluted computation									84,558	58,634	52,249
Loss from continuing operations, Diluted									$ (1.12)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.85)
Loss from operations, Diluted										(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									$ (1.11)	$ (1.36)	$ (3.23)
Number of antidilutive stock options, performance-based restricted shares and tangible equity units excluded from shares used in the diluted loss per common share computation									2,600	1,276	1,038