Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 46,703	$ 50,134	$ 13,253	$ 25,651
Accounts receivable, net	228,506	228,377
Refundable income taxes	1,251
Deferred income taxes	17,125	17,589
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	21,060	22,116
Total current assets	314,645	318,216
Property and equipment, net	94,959	97,030	100,980
Goodwill	288,140	288,265
Other intangible assets, net	319,564	321,293
Other assets	23,904	27,154
Total assets	1,041,212	1,051,958	1,013,332
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	33,245	37,738
Accrued expenses	104,447	114,876
Current portion of long-term debt	10,009	14,695
Current portion of obligations under capital leases	5,834	6,052
Accrued income taxes	802	1,813
Total current liabilities	154,337	175,174
Long-term liabilities	56,368	56,469
Long-term debt	356,203	358,420
Obligations under capital leases	10,732	11,632	12,108
Deferred income taxes	107,753	106,253
Total liabilities	685,393	707,948
Additional paid-in capital	245,049	244,345
Retained earnings	111,066	99,734
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(161)	30
Total shareholder's equity - Res-Care, Inc.	355,954	344,109
Noncontrolling interest	(135)	(99)		11
Total shareholder's equity	355,819	344,010
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity	1,041,212	1,051,958
U.S. subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Percentage of ownership in subsidiaries which jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the senior notes	100.00%
ResCare, Inc.
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	40,339	42,633	5,333	16,733
Accounts receivable, net	20,315	21,515
Refundable income taxes	1,251
Deferred income taxes	17,125	17,589
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,089	11,620
Total current assets	88,119	93,357
Property and equipment, net	42,364	43,320
Goodwill	282,839	282,832
Other intangible assets, net	301,103	302,293
Investment in subsidiaries	938,207	900,087
Other assets	20,803	24,073
Total assets	1,673,435	1,645,962
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	16,036	20,499
Accrued expenses	46,833	55,299
Current portion of long-term debt	8,750	13,098
Accrued income taxes	842	1,843
Total current liabilities	72,461	90,739
Intercompany	725,754	691,094
Long-term liabilities	56,187	56,240
Long-term debt	355,326	357,527
Deferred income taxes	107,753	106,253
Total liabilities	1,317,481	1,301,853
Additional paid-in capital	245,049	244,345
Retained earnings	111,066	99,734
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(161)	30
Total shareholder's equity - Res-Care, Inc.	355,954	344,109
Total shareholder's equity	355,954	344,109
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity	1,673,435	1,645,962
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,708	4,795	5,516	6,547
Accounts receivable, net	207,843	206,491
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	11,474	9,981
Total current assets	223,025	221,267
Property and equipment, net	52,187	53,282
Other intangible assets, net	18,461	19,000
Intercompany	657,549	622,481
Investment in subsidiaries	41,782	41,782
Other assets	3,084	3,064
Total assets	996,088	960,876
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	17,171	17,181
Accrued expenses	56,782	58,729
Current portion of long-term debt	1,259	1,573
Current portion of obligations under capital leases	5,834	6,052
Total current liabilities	81,046	83,535
Long-term liabilities	181	229
Long-term debt	877	893
Obligations under capital leases	10,732	11,632
Total liabilities	92,836	96,289
Additional paid-in capital	476,811	476,811
Retained earnings	426,459	387,794
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(18)	(18)
Total shareholder's equity - Res-Care, Inc.	903,252	864,587
Total shareholder's equity	903,252	864,587
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity	996,088	960,876
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,656	2,706	2,404	2,371
Accounts receivable, net	348	371
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	497	515
Total current assets	3,501	3,592
Property and equipment, net	408	428
Goodwill	5,301	5,433
Intercompany	69,747	70,335
Other assets	17	17
Total assets	78,974	79,805
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	38	58
Accrued expenses	832	848
Current portion of long-term debt	1,542	1,746
Accrued income taxes	(40)	(30)
Total current liabilities	2,372	2,622
Total liabilities	2,372	2,622
Additional paid-in capital	125,104	125,104
Retained earnings	(47,542)	(47,445)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(825)	(377)
Total shareholder's equity - Res-Care, Inc.	76,737	77,282
Noncontrolling interest	(135)	(99)
Total shareholder's equity	76,602	77,183
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity	78,974	79,805
Eliminations
Current assets:
Intercompany	(727,296)	(692,816)
Investment in subsidiaries	(979,989)	(941,869)
Total assets	(1,707,285)	(1,634,685)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	(1,542)	(1,722)
Total current liabilities	(1,542)	(1,722)
Intercompany	(725,754)	(691,094)
Total liabilities	(727,296)	(692,816)
Additional paid-in capital	(601,915)	(601,915)
Retained earnings	(378,917)	(340,349)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	843	395
Total shareholder's equity - Res-Care, Inc.	(979,989)	(941,869)
Total shareholder's equity	(979,989)	(941,869)
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity	$ (1,707,285)	$ (1,634,685)