Segments (Service Revenues And Sales And After-Tax Earnings By Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	$ 415,059	$ 390,409	$ 820,923	$ 780,798
After-tax Income/(Loss)	(21,656)	24,885	8,188	49,725
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	415,059	390,409	820,923	780,798
After-tax Income/(Loss)	(15,196)	31,891	20,025	63,996
Segment VITAS [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	284,710	278,739	567,026	556,266
After-tax Income/(Loss)	(32,254)	18,550	(11,657)	37,637
Segment Roto-Rooter [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	130,349	111,670	253,897	224,532
After-tax Income/(Loss)	17,058	13,341	31,682	26,359
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	$ (6,460)	$ (7,006)	$ (11,837)	$ (14,271)