Revision of Previously Reported Data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Revision of Previously Reported Data
Decrease in income due to out-of-period adjustment relating to capital lease accounting, before tax			$ 700,000
Decrease in income due to out-of-period adjustment relating to capital lease accounting, after tax			400,000
Revision of Previously Reported Data
Revenues	409,934,000	396,838,000		1,195,621,000	1,194,082,000
Gross profit	104,416,000	100,841,000		300,654,000	297,662,000
Operating income	24,924,000	28,736,000		69,894,000	72,345,000
Interest expense, net	8,140,000	8,243,000		24,342,000	27,075,000
Net income (loss):
Net income (loss)	11,334,000	12,244,000		32,869,000	22,778,000
Net loss - noncontrolling interest	(34,000)	(24,000)		(110,000)	(85,000)	(110,000)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.	11,368,000	12,268,000		32,979,000	22,863,000
Property and equipment, net	100,128,000	97,976,000		100,128,000	97,976,000	97,030,000
Current portion of Long-term debt, including capital leases	18,911,000	5,930,000		18,911,000	5,930,000	20,747,000
Obligations under capital leases	14,040,000	11,791,000		14,040,000	11,791,000	11,632,000
Cash provided by operating activities				55,448,000	42,255,000
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities				(19,638,000)	(5,594,000)
As Reported
Revision of Previously Reported Data
Revenues		396,838,000			1,194,082,000
Gross profit		100,636,000			297,648,000
Operating income		28,498,000			72,330,000
Interest expense, net		7,951,000			26,301,000
Net income (loss):
Net income (loss)		12,276,000			23,240,000
Net loss - noncontrolling interest		(24,000)			(85,000)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.		12,300,000			23,325,000
Property and equipment, net		81,386,000			81,386,000
Current portion of Long-term debt, including capital leases		74,000			74,000
Obligations under capital leases		288,000			288,000
Cash provided by operating activities					37,814,000
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities					(1,153,000)
Adjustment
Revision of Previously Reported Data
Gross profit		205,000			14,000
Operating income		238,000			15,000
Interest expense, net		292,000			774,000
Net income (loss):
Net income (loss)		(32,000)			(462,000)
Net income-Res-Care, Inc.		(32,000)			(462,000)
Property and equipment, net		16,590,000			16,590,000
Current portion of Long-term debt, including capital leases		5,856,000			5,856,000
Obligations under capital leases		11,503,000			11,503,000
Cash provided by operating activities					4,441,000
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities					$ (4,441,000)