Business Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												9 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	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total 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
Operating contribution														258,578		265,917		277,745
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment								(643,305)						(19,132)		(643,305)	[1]	0
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived			(19,132)										(19,132)	(19,132)	[1]	(145,110)
Depreciation and amortization														(26,581)		(30,140)		(22,479)
Gain on sale of assets and businesses, net	2,600				5,400								5,447	8,014		1,061		103
Dividend income														0		8,590	[2]	0
Interest expense and other, net														(89,947)	[3]	(88,610)	[3]	(39,030)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix	18,510	[4]	(2,678)	[5]	23,818	[4]	7,582	5,995	(635,830)	[5]	6,750	20,737		47,232		(602,348)		88,594
Total assets	1,510,934							1,530,328						1,510,934		1,530,328		2,120,128
Home Health [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues														948,019		1,012,566		1,062,944
Operating contribution														125,445	[6]	126,194	[6]	205,469	[6]
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment																(408,400)
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived														(6,000)
Segment assets	242,603	[1]						239,751						242,603	[1]	239,751		656,540
Hospice [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues														764,785		786,212		351,515
Operating contribution														133,133	[6]	139,723	[6]	72,276	[6]
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment																(193,705)
Impairment of intangible assets, finite-lived														(13,100)
Segment assets	858,502	[1]						905,284						858,502	[1]	905,284		1,054,006
Home Health and Hospice [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment																602,100	[1]
Segment assets	1,101,105							1,145,035						1,101,105		1,145,035		1,710,546
Corporate [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Corporate Expenses														(83,700)	[6]	(115,861)	[6]	(127,745)	[6]
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment																(41,200)
Segment assets	$ 409,829							$ 385,293						$ 409,829		$ 385,293		$ 409,582	[1]

[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.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] 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.

[5] 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.

[6] For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded charges relating to cost savings initiatives and other restructuring costs, acquisition and integration costs and legal settlements of $5.7 million, $49.1 million and $46.0 million, respectively. See Note 10 for additional information.The charges were reflected as follows for segment reporting purposes (in millions): 2012 2011 2010Home Health$5.6 $7.7 $11.8Hospice0.4 3.7 0.3Corporate expenses(0.3) 37.7 33.9Total$5.7 $49.1 $46.0