Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 425,017		$ 424,444		$ 427,691		$ 435,652		$ 449,209		$ 449,748		$ 448,712		$ 451,109		$ 1,712,804	$ 1,798,778	$ 1,414,459
Gross profit	195,763		200,555		204,954		202,791		208,604		206,805		214,561		220,353		804,063	850,323	734,385
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix, including gain on sale	18,510	[1]	(2,678)	[2]	23,818	[1]	7,582		5,995		(635,830)	[2]	6,750		20,737		47,232	(602,348)	88,594
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Gentiva shareholders	8,570	[1],[3],[4]	(523)	[2],[3]	13,909	[1],[3]	4,840	[3]	3,366	[3]	(479,734)	[2],[3]	4,523	[3]	13,005	[3]	27,680	(458,199)	55,816
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0		0		0		0		1,219		5,983		666		447		0	8,315	(3,135)
Net income (loss) attributable to Gentiva shareholders	$ 8,570	[1],[3],[4]	$ (523)	[2],[3]	$ 13,909	[1],[3]	$ 4,840	[3]	$ 4,585	[3]	$ (473,751)	[2],[3]	$ 5,189	[3]	$ 13,452	[3]	$ 27,680	$ (449,884)	$ 52,681
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Gentiva shareholders	$ 0.28		$ (0.02)		$ 0.46		$ 0.16		$ 0.11		$ (15.82)		$ 0.15		$ 0.43		$ 0.88	$ (15.13)	$ 1.86
Discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.04		$ 0.20		$ 0.02		$ 0.02		$ 0.00	$ 0.28	$ (0.11)
Net income (loss) attributable to Gentiva shareholders	$ 0.28		$ (0.02)		$ 0.46		$ 0.16		$ 0.15		$ (15.62)		$ 0.17		$ 0.45		$ 0.88	$ (14.85)	$ 1.75
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Gentiva shareholders	$ 0.28		$ (0.02)		$ 0.46		$ 0.16		$ 0.11		$ (15.82)		$ 0.15		$ 0.42		$ 0.87	$ (15.13)	$ 1.81
Discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.04		$ 0.20		$ 0.02		$ 0.02		$ 0.00	$ 0.28	$ (0.10)
Net income (loss) attributable to Gentiva shareholders	$ 0.28		$ (0.02)		$ 0.46		$ 0.16		$ 0.15		$ (15.62)		$ 0.17		$ 0.44		$ 0.87	$ (14.85)	$ 1.71
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	30,548		30,423		30,338		30,724		30,402		30,337		30,293		30,127		30,509	30,336	29,724
Diluted	30,891		30,423		30,446		30,959		30,541		30,337		30,846		30,789		30,687	30,336	30,468

[1] For the fourth quarter of 2012, income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix, includes a $2.6 million pre-tax gain related to the sale of the Phoenix area hospice operations. For the second quarter of 2012, Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix, includes a $5.4 million pre-tax gain associated with the sale of (i) the Gentiva consulting business and (ii) the sale of eight home health branches and four hospice branches in Louisiana.

[2] For the third quarter of 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. For the third quarter of 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. See Notes 8 and 9.

[3] Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix, including gain on sale for each of the 2012 and 2011 quarters includes charges relating to cost savings initiatives, integration and acquisition activities, other restructuring and legal settlements as follows (in thousands): FirstQuarter SecondQuarter ThirdQuarter FourthQuarterYear ended December 31, 2012$5,391 $25 $53 $201Year ended December 31, 2011$3,765 $21,246 $9,845 $14,282

[4] In anticipation of a settlement of claims alleged by the owner of CareCentrix and working capital adjustments as set forth in the stock purchase agreement, during the fourth quarter, the Company recorded a $6.5 million adjustment to the seller financing note receivable to reflect its revised estimated fair value of $3.4 million, which is recorded in equity in net loss of CareCentrix.