CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	$ 1,616,633	$ 1,599,109	$ 1,579,335
Cost of services	1,204,568	1,194,494	1,190,410
Gross profit	412,065	404,615	388,925
Operating expenses:
Operational general and administrative	238,685	233,838	229,254
Corporate general and administrative	69,657	61,618	55,771
Total operating expenses	308,342	295,456	285,025
Operating income	103,723	109,159	103,900
Other expenses:
Interest expense, net	32,867	35,257	42,059
Loss on extinguishment of debt		7,129
Total other expenses, net	32,867	42,386	42,059
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	70,856	66,773	61,841
Income tax expense	21,083	25,760	20,005
Income from continuing operations	49,773	41,013	41,836
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax			11,156
Net income	49,773	41,013	52,992
Net loss-noncontrolling interest	(110)	(110)	(171)
Net income - Res-Care, Inc.	49,883	41,123	53,163
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(579)	206	(433)
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.	49,304	41,329	52,730
Total comprehensive income	$ 49,194	$ 41,219	$ 52,559