Discontinued operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations Revenue, Net	$ 25,163,000	$ 65,833,000	$ 133,769,000	$ 198,672,000
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	(2,462,000)	4,921,000	(998,000)	22,651,000
Discontinued Operations Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	784,000	1,879,000	1,583,000	8,652,000
Discontinued Operations Income (loss) from operations, after tax, before impairment	(3,246,000)	3,042,000	(2,581,000)	13,999,000
Discontinued Operations Impairment	0	0	39,804,000	0
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses			71,194,000	11,083,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(3,246,000)	3,042,000	(42,385,000)	13,999,000
Hospice Disposal Group [Member]
Discontinued Operations Revenue, Net	25,163,000	52,774,000	123,071,000	158,240,000
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	(2,566,000)	5,155,000	548,000	23,149,000
Discontinued Operations Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	664,000	1,972,000	2,344,000	8,856,000
Discontinued Operations Income (loss) from operations, after tax, before impairment	(3,230,000)		(1,796,000)	14,293,000
Discontinued Operations Impairment	0	0	39,804,000	0
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses			65,000,000
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax			4,000,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(3,230,000)	3,183,000	(41,600,000)	14,293,000
Retail Disposal Group [Member]
Discontinued Operations Revenue, Net	0	13,059,000	10,698,000	40,432,000
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	104,000	(234,000)	(1,546,000)	(498,000)
Discontinued Operations Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	120,000	(93,000)	(761,000)	(204,000)
Discontinued Operations Income (loss) from operations, after tax, before impairment	(16,000)		(785,000)	(294,000)
Discontinued Operations Impairment	0	0	0	0
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses			6,000,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ (16,000)	$ (141,000)	$ (785,000)	$ (294,000)