Identifiable Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Charge		$ 643,305,000			$ 19,132,000		$ 643,305,000	[1]	$ 0
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, period increase (decrease)					1,400,000		1,100,000
Amortization expense					10,000,000		13,000,000
Estimated amortization expense for 2013					4,100,000
Estimated amortization expense for 2014					2,400,000
Estimated amortization expense for 2015					2,300,000
Estimated amortization expense for 2016					1,400,000
Estimated amortization expense for 2017					1,200,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss			457,037,000				457,037,000
Goodwill		641,669,000			656,364,000		641,669,000		1,085,066,000
Increase in goodwill							13,641,000
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived	19,132,000			19,132,000	19,132,000	[1]	145,110,000
Operating expenses					655,766,000		730,407,000		606,864,000
Home Health [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Charge							408,400,000
Number of branches divested					46
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss							263,370,000
Discount rate					10.60%		12.10%
Goodwill impairment test, fair valie exceeds book value, percent					5200.00%
Goodwill impairment test, net book value of reporting unit					129,000,000
Goodwill impairment test, estimated fair value of reporting unit					196,000,000
Goodwill		3,688,000			9,019,000		3,688,000		264,679,000
Increase in goodwill							2,379,000
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived					6,000,000
Hospice [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Charge							193,705,000
Number of branches divested					13
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss							193,667,000
Discount rate					9.50%		11.70%
Goodwill impairment test, net book value of reporting unit					746,000,000
Goodwill impairment test, estimated fair value of reporting unit					883,000,000
Goodwill		637,981,000			647,345,000		637,981,000		820,387,000
Increase in goodwill							11,261,000
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived					13,100,000
Home Health and Hospice [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Charge							(602,100,000)	[1]
Impairment of Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on sale of business							700,000
Operating expenses							$ 400,000

[1] 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.