Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	$ 396,233	$ 399,902	$ 785,687	$ 797,244
Operating expenses	372,461	376,339	740,717	753,635
Operating income	23,772	23,563	44,970	43,609
Other expenses (income):
Interest, net	7,665	8,389	16,202	18,832
Loss on extinguishment of debt		7,129		7,129
Total other (income) expenses	7,665	15,518	16,202	25,961
Income before income taxes	16,107	8,045	28,768	17,648
Income tax (benefit) expense	5,868	3,246	7,233	7,114
Net income	10,239	4,799	21,535	10,534
Net loss-noncontrolling interest	(40)	(31)	(76)	(61)	(110)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	10,279	4,830	21,611	10,595
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currently translation adjustments	(223)	(132)	(414)	29
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	10,056	4,698	21,197	10,624
Total comprehensive income	10,016	4,667	21,121	10,563
ResCare, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	62,612	62,473	123,064	127,315
Operating expenses	67,277	68,154	132,454	139,171
Operating income	(4,665)	(5,681)	(9,390)	(11,856)
Other expenses (income):
Interest, net	7,935	8,132	16,230	18,436
Loss on extinguishment of debt		7,129		7,129
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(24,576)	(17,332)	(40,791)	(32,951)
Total other (income) expenses	(16,641)	(2,071)	(24,561)	(7,386)
Income before income taxes	11,976	(3,610)	15,171	(4,470)
Income tax (benefit) expense	1,697	(8,440)	(6,440)	(15,065)
Net income	10,279	4,830	21,611	10,595
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	10,279	4,830	21,611	10,595
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currently translation adjustments	(223)	(132)	(414)	29
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	10,056	4,698	21,197	10,624
Total comprehensive income	10,056	4,698	21,197	10,624
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	332,866	336,609	661,116	668,372
Operating expenses	304,324	307,314	606,571	612,734
Operating income	28,542	29,295	54,545	55,638
Other expenses (income):
Interest, net	(327)	260	(142)	401
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(304)	(40)	(447)	(84)
Total other (income) expenses	(631)	220	(589)	317
Income before income taxes	29,173	29,075	55,134	55,321
Income tax (benefit) expense	4,195	11,706	13,748	22,247
Net income	24,978	17,369	41,386	33,074
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	24,978	17,369	41,386	33,074
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	24,978	17,369	41,386	33,074
Total comprehensive income	24,978	17,369	41,386	33,074
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	755	820	1,507	1,557
Operating expenses	860	871	1,692	1,730
Operating income	(105)	(51)	(185)	(173)
Other expenses (income):
Interest, net	57	(3)	114	(5)
Total other (income) expenses	57	(3)	114	(5)
Income before income taxes	(162)	(48)	(299)	(168)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(24)	(20)	(75)	(68)
Net income	(138)	(28)	(224)	(100)
Net loss-noncontrolling interest	(40)	(31)	(76)	(61)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	(98)	3	(148)	(39)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currently translation adjustments	(223)	(132)	(414)	29
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	(321)	(129)	(562)	(10)
Total comprehensive income	(361)	(160)	(638)	(71)
Eliminations
Other expenses (income):
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	24,880	17,372	41,238	33,035
Total other (income) expenses	24,880	17,372	41,238	33,035
Income before income taxes	(24,880)	(17,372)	(41,238)	(33,035)
Net income	(24,880)	(17,372)	(41,238)	(33,035)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	(24,880)	(17,372)	(41,238)	(33,035)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currently translation adjustments	223	132	414	(29)
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	(24,657)	(17,240)	(40,824)	(33,064)
Total comprehensive income	$ (24,657)	$ (17,240)	$ (40,824)	$ (33,064)