Business Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues	$ 410,492		$ 424,444		$ 1,240,507		$ 1,287,787
Operating contribution	54,287		67,066		168,250		196,953
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived			(19,132)	[1]			(19,132)	[1]
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment	0		(19,132)		(224,320)	[1]	(19,132)
Depreciation and amortization	(4,421)		(6,653)		(13,932)		(21,375)
Gain on sale of businesses	0		0		0		5,447
Interest expense and other, net	(22,342)		(22,894)		(66,783)		(67,051)	[2]
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix	6,852		(2,678)		(194,228)		28,722
Assets	1,252,068		1,484,214		1,252,068		1,484,214		1,510,934
Home Health [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues	234,864		234,670		706,141		710,321
Operating contribution	31,922	[3]	32,268		92,027	[3]	94,527	[3]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived			(6,010)	[1]			(6,010)	[1]
Assets	249,313		242,217	[1]	249,313		242,217	[1]
Hospice [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues	175,628		189,774		534,366		577,466
Operating contribution	22,365	[3]	34,798		76,223	[3]	102,426	[3]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived			(13,122)	[1]			(13,122)	[1]
Assets	624,819	[1]	864,139	[1]	624,819	[1]	864,139	[1]
Home Health and Hospice [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Assets	874,132		1,106,356		874,132		1,106,356
Corporate [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Corporate expenses	(20,672)	[3]	(21,065)	[3]	(57,443)	[3]	(66,120)	[3]
Assets	$ 377,936	[1]	$ 377,858		$ 377,936	[1]	$ 377,858

[1] (2)At March 31, 2013, the Company performed an interim impairment test of its Hospice reporting unit. Based on the results of the interim impairment test, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge relating to goodwill of approximately $220.8 million. As part of that analysis, the Company reviewed the valuation of its owned real estate utilized in the Hospice business. The analysis indicated that two of the Company's hospice inpatient units had estimated fair values lower than their carrying values and, as such, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million. See Note 9.In addition, the Company conducted an evaluation of the various systems used to support its field operations. In connection with that review, the Company made a strategic decision to replace its business intelligence software platform and, as such, recorded a non-cash impairment charge, related to developed software, of approximately $1.6 million.Hospice and corporate assets were reduced by $220.8 million and $3.5 million, respectively, as a result of the impairment.For both the third quarter and first nine months 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. Home Health and Hospice assets were reduced by $6.0 million and $13.1 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2012 as a result of the impairment.

[2] (3) For the first nine months of 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. See Note 2 for additional information.

[3] (1)For the third quarter and first nine months of 2013, the Company recorded charges relating to cost savings initiatives and other restructuring costs, acquisition and integration costs and legal settlements of $1.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively. For the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, the Company recorded charges relating to cost savings initiatives and other restructuring costs, acquisition and integration costs and legal settlements of $0.1 million and $5.5 million, respectively.The charges were reflected as follows for segment reporting purposes (in millions): Third Quarter First Nine Months 2013 2012 2013 2012Home Health$0.1 $— $0.1 $5.7Hospice— — 0.7 0.1Corporate expenses1.6 0.1 1.8 (0.3)Total$1.7 $0.1 $2.6 $5.5