Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Nov. 15, 2010 Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 ResCare, Inc.	Dec. 31, 2012 ResCare, Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 ResCare, Inc.	Nov. 15, 2010 ResCare, Inc. Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Guarantor Subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiaries	Nov. 15, 2010 Guarantor Subsidiaries Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries	Nov. 15, 2010 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Eliminations	Dec. 31, 2012 Eliminations	Dec. 31, 2011 Eliminations	Nov. 15, 2010 Eliminations Predecessor
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 6,183	$ 18,235	$ 12,244	$ 4,799	$ 5,735	$ 12,094	$ 30,290	$ 6,934	$ 3,674	$ 41,013	$ 52,992	$ (176,349)	$ 6,183	$ 41,123	$ 52,992	$ (176,349)	$ 10,137	$ 79,990	$ 82,794	$ 58,306	$ (2,563)	$ (179)	$ (8,963)	$ (16,354)	$ (7,574)	$ (79,921)	$ (73,831)	$ (41,952)
Adjustments to reconcile net income, including noncontrolling interest, to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	2,315									33,371	20,992	22,448	464	17,882	12,824	10,083	1,820	15,310	8,060	11,541	31	179	108	824
Impairment charge												263,155				250,181								12,974
Amortization of discount and deferred debt issuance costs on notes	70									2,961	2,943	1,577	70	2,961	2,943	1,577
Stock compensation										3,836	2,383	6,201		3,836	2,383	6,201
Deferred income taxes, net	2,443									4,062	4,450	(55,598)	2,440	4,057	4,458	(55,547)					3	5	(8)	(51)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	844									5,679	5,851	9,573		965	3,903		844	4,714	1,928	9,573			20
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of original issue discount paid										6,400				6,400
Loss on sale of assets											1,642				2,808								(1,166)
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options												1,176				1,176
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	(27)									238	481	198					(27)	238	481	198
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries													(7,574)	(79,689)	(73,831)	(41,952)		(232)							7,574	79,921	73,831	41,952
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	47,646									(17,239)	(19,122)	(46,555)	9,331	(104,059)	(151,659)	(27,179)	37,910	(39,126)	120,299	(25,872)	405	(82,172)	12,238	6,496
Cash provided by operating activities	59,474		42,255	24,519	(1,047)					80,321	72,612	25,826	10,914	101,594	(143,179)	(31,809)	50,684	60,894	213,562	53,746	(2,124)	(82,167)	2,229	3,889
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,127)									(15,485)	(13,507)	(8,593)	(1,258)	(9,979)	(21,566)	(4,275)	(869)	(5,337)	7,826	(4,265)		(169)	233	(53)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(7,192)									(30,690)	(23,106)	(21,234)					(7,192)	(30,690)	(23,106)	(21,234)
Proceeds from sale of assets	59									166	221	120					59	166	221	120
Cash used in investing activities	(9,260)									(46,009)	(36,392)	(29,707)	(1,258)	(9,979)	(21,566)	(4,275)	(8,002)	(35,861)	(15,059)	(25,379)		(169)	233	(53)
Financing activities:
Long-term debt repayments	(122,388)									(174,718)	(38,824)	(1,395)	(122,450)	(171,828)	(37,134)		(25)	(2,493)	2,142	(1,395)	87	(397)	(3,832)
Long-term debt borrowings	366,600									175,000		2,594	366,600	175,000		2,594
Short-term borrowings-three months or less, net	(50,000)											6,000	(50,000)			3,237				151				2,612
Payments on obligations under capital leases	(11)									(6,034)	(92)	(85)					(11)	(6,034)	(92)	(85)
Net payments relating to intercompany financing													32,946		206,689	38,558	(38,064)		(203,768)	(26,491)	5,118		(2,921)	(12,067)
Debt issuance costs	(15,863)									(4,008)	(561)	(4,543)	(15,863)	(4,008)	(561)	(4,543)
Payments for common share exchange	(56,875)												(56,875)
Redemption of preferred shares	(158,843)												(158,843)
Return on preferred shares	(753)												(753)
Funds contributed by co-investors									1,400		1,400				1,400
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation												(1,176)				(1,176)
Employee withholding payments on share-based compensation												(2,683)				(2,683)
Net payments relating to intercompany financing														(64,879)				(18,189)				83,068
Cash used in financing activities	(38,133)		(5,594)	(847)	(2,614)					(9,760)	(38,077)	(1,288)	(5,238)	(65,715)	170,394	35,987	(38,100)	(26,716)	(201,718)	(27,820)	5,205	82,671	(6,753)	(9,455)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	12									(69)	(44)	(44)					(3)	(69)	(63)	44	15		19	(88)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	12,093									24,483	(1,901)	(5,213)	4,418	25,900	5,649	(97)	4,579	(1,752)	(3,278)	591	3,096	335	(4,272)	(5,707)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	15,459				25,651				27,552	25,651	27,552	20,672	6,666	16,733	11,084	6,763	5,246	6,547	9,825	4,655	3,547	2,371	6,643	9,254
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 27,552	$ 50,134				$ 25,651				$ 50,134	$ 25,651	$ 15,459	$ 11,084	$ 42,633	$ 16,733	$ 6,666	$ 9,825	$ 4,795	$ 6,547	$ 5,246	$ 6,643	$ 2,706	$ 2,371	$ 3,547