Segments (Service Revenues And Sales And After-Tax Earnings By Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	$ 44,667	$ 44,996
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	52,274	54,953
VITAS [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	29,288	32,015
Roto-Rooter [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	22,986	22,938
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	$ (7,607)	$ (9,957)