Background and Basis of Presentation Background and Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012 Family Home Care [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 North Mississippi Hospice [Member]	Jul. 22, 2012 Advocate Hospice Llc [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 Odyssey HealthCare of Augusta, LLC [Member]	Aug. 17, 2010 Odyssey Health Care Inc [Member]	May 15, 2010 United Health Care Group [Member]	Mar. 05, 2010 Heart to Heart Hospice of Starkville [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Cost of acquired entity, cash paid	$ 22.3	$ 12.3	$ 4.5	$ 5.5	$ 0.3	$ 1,087.0	$ 6.0	$ 2.5

Amount of cash paid to acquire the entity.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph f(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant