Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 01, 2013	Jun. 29, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001096142
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		30,891,615
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 197,199,983