Business Segment Information (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, settlement and impairment provisions				$ 5,670		$ 49,138		$ 46,003
Interest expense and other, net				(89,947)	[1]	(88,610)	[1]	(39,030)
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived	19,132		19,132	19,132	[2]	145,110
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment		643,305		19,132		643,305	[2]	0
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss) [Abstract]
Recognized dividend income				0		8,590	[3]	0
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense and other, net				500		3,800
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of states in certified providers serving				38
Restructuring, settlement and impairment provisions				5,600		7,700		11,800
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived				6,000
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment						408,400
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of states in certified providers serving				30
Restructuring, settlement and impairment provisions				400		3,700		300
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived				13,100
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment						193,705
Corporate expenses [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, settlement and impairment provisions				(300)		37,700		33,900
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment						$ 41,200

[1] For the year ended December 31, 2012, interest expense and other, net included charges of $0.5 million relating to the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs associated with the revolving credit facility. In addition, interest expense and other, net for the year ended December 31, 2011 included charges of $3.8 million associated with terminating the Company’s interest rate swaps in connection with the refinancing of the Company’s Term Loan A and Term Loan B under the Company’s credit agreement. See Note 10 for additional information.

[2] For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges associated with a write-off of its trade name intangibles of $19.1 million in connection with the Company's initiative to re-brand its operations under the Gentiva name. Home Health and Hospice assets were reduced by $6.0 million and $13.1 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2012 as a result of the impairment.For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges associated with goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets of $643.3 million. This charge was the result of (i) changes in the Company's business climate, (ii) uncertainties around Medicare reimbursement as the federal government worked to reduce the federal deficit, (iii) a significant decline in the price of the Company's common stock during the fiscal year, (iv) a write-down of software and (v) a change in the estimated fair value of real estate. Home Health, Hospice and corporate assets were reduced by $408.4 million, $193.7 million and $41.2 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2011, as a result of the impairment.

[3] For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recognized dividend income of $8.6 million as a result of the sale of a portion of the Company’s combined common and preferred ownership of CareCentrix.