Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	$ 389,454	$ 397,342
Operating expenses	368,256	377,296
Operating income	21,198	20,046
Other expenses (income):
Interest, net	8,537	10,443
Total other (income) expenses	8,537	10,443
(Loss) income before income taxes	12,661	9,603
Income tax (benefit) expense	1,365	3,868
Net income	11,296	5,735
Net loss-noncontrolling interest	(36)	(30)	(110)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	11,332	5,765
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(191)	161
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	11,141	5,926
Total comprehensive income	11,105	5,896
ResCare, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	60,452	64,842
Operating expenses	65,177	71,017
Operating income	(4,725)	(6,175)
Other expenses (income):
Interest, net	8,295	10,304
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(16,215)	(15,619)
Total other (income) expenses	(7,920)	(5,315)
(Loss) income before income taxes	3,195	(860)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(8,137)	(6,625)
Net income	11,332	5,765
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	11,332	5,765
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(191)	161
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	11,141	5,926
Total comprehensive income	11,141	5,926
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	328,250	331,763
Operating expenses	302,247	305,420
Operating income	26,003	26,343
Other expenses (income):
Interest, net	185	141
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(143)	(43)
Total other (income) expenses	42	98
(Loss) income before income taxes	25,961	26,245
Income tax (benefit) expense	9,553	10,541
Net income	16,408	15,704
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	16,408	15,704
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	16,408	15,704
Total comprehensive income	16,408	15,704
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	752	737
Operating expenses	832	859
Operating income	(80)	(122)
Other expenses (income):
Interest, net	57	(2)
Total other (income) expenses	57	(2)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(137)	(120)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(51)	(48)
Net income	(86)	(72)
Net loss-noncontrolling interest	(36)	(30)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	(50)	(42)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(191)	161
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	(241)	119
Total comprehensive income	(277)	89
Eliminations
Other expenses (income):
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	16,358	15,662
Total other (income) expenses	16,358	15,662
(Loss) income before income taxes	(16,358)	(15,662)
Net income	(16,358)	(15,662)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	(16,358)	(15,662)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	191	(161)
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	(16,167)	(15,823)
Total comprehensive income	$ (16,167)	$ (15,823)