Onex Transaction (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			0 Months Ended						0 Months Ended							0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 22, 2010 Senior secured Term Loan B due 2016	Apr. 05, 2012 Senior secured credit facility	Dec. 22, 2010 Senior secured credit facility	Dec. 22, 2010 10.75% senior notes due 2019	Dec. 31, 2012 10.75% senior notes due 2019	Dec. 31, 2011 10.75% senior notes due 2019	Dec. 22, 2010 7.75% senior notes	Oct. 03, 2005 7.75% senior notes	Dec. 22, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser)	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser)	Sep. 06, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser)	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser) ResCare	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser) ResCare Trade names	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser) ResCare Customer relationships	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser) ResCare Covenants not to compete	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser) ResCare Other	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser) ResCare Licenses	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser) ResCare Final Allocation Adjustments	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliate of Onex Partners III (Purchaser) ResCare Preliminary Allocation	Nov. 16, 2010 Affiliates of Onex corporation (Onex Investors)	Mar. 31, 2011 Affiliates of Onex corporation (Onex Investors)	Dec. 22, 2010 ResCare Holdings	Mar. 31, 2011 ResCare Holdings	Dec. 20, 2010 ResCare Holdings
Onex Transaction
Offer price per share (in dollars per shares)														$ 13.25
Contribution for common membership interests																							$ 120,000,000
Contribution for preferred membership interests																							158,800,000
Preferred membership interests rate (as a percent)																							4.80%
Public shares in the stock tender offer													21,044,765
Investor ownership percentage in reporting entity after acquisition transaction																							87.40%
Purchase price per share, without interest																											$ 13.25
Maximum borrowing capacity					200,000,000	275,000,000
New borrowings				170,000,000			200,000,000				150,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)							10.75%	10.75%	10.75%	7.75%
Debt repurchased										120,000,000
Percentage of debt repurchased										80.00%
Amount outstanding			390,799,000							30,000,000
Exchange amount												56,900,000
Redemption of preferred membership interests												158,800,000
Payment of accrued preferred return												800,000
Capital contribution	1,400,000	1,400,000																							1,400,000
Capital contributions made to ResCare																										1,400,000
Membership interest in Purchaser																								120,000,000
Purchase price															452,400,000
Number of fully converted shares used as basis for calculating purchase price of common stock acquired by third party															34,100,000
Share price															$ 13.25
Purchase price allocation
Cash and cash equivalents													15,459,000									15,459,000
Accounts and notes receivable													266,508,000									266,508,000
Deferred income taxes													15,226,000								330,000	14,896,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets													25,985,000									25,985,000
Property, plant and equipment													86,274,000								(10,114,000)	96,388,000
Goodwill													242,369,000		242,369,000						12,438,000	229,931,000
Other intangible assets													314,039,000		314,039,000						(7,210,000)	321,249,000
Other assets													12,079,000									12,079,000
Total assets acquired													977,939,000								(4,556,000)	982,495,000
Current liabilities													191,007,000									191,007,000
Long-term debt													205,437,000									205,437,000
Deferred income taxes													91,553,000								(8,670,000)	100,223,000
Other long-term liabilities													37,298,000								3,914,000	33,384,000
Noncontrolling interest													200,000								200,000
Total liabilities assumed													525,495,000								(4,556,000)	530,051,000
Net assets acquired													452,444,000									452,444,000
Additional disclosures
Indefinite-lived intangible assets																				226,370,000
Finite-lived intangible assets																61,420,000	24,190,000	1,480,000	579,000
Total intangible assets															556,408,000
Useful Life																20 years	20 years	2 years	5 years
Goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes															$ 169,000,000