Segments (Service Revenues And Sales And After-Tax Earnings By Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	$ 390,389	$ 376,652
Net income	24,840	24,537
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	390,389	376,652
Net income	32,107	31,323
Segment VITAS [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	277,528	269,613
Net income	19,087	19,315
Segment Roto-Rooter [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	112,861	107,039
Net income	13,020	12,008
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income	$ (7,267)	$ (6,786)