Quarterly Data (unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Data (unaudited)
Revenues	$ 421,012,000	$ 409,934,000	$ 396,233,000	$ 389,454,000	$ 405,027,000	$ 396,838,000	$ 399,902,000	$ 397,342,000	$ 1,616,633,000	$ 1,599,109,000	$ 1,579,335,000
Gross profit	111,411,000	104,511,000	101,065,000	95,078,000	106,953,000	100,841,000	98,759,000	98,062,000	412,065,000	404,615,000	388,925,000
Net income:
Net income-including noncontrolling interest	16,904,000	11,334,000	10,239,000	11,296,000	18,235,000	12,244,000	4,799,000	5,735,000	49,773,000	41,013,000	52,992,000
Net loss-noncontrolling interest		(34,000)	(40,000)	(36,000)	(25,000)	(24,000)	(31,000)	(30,000)	(110,000)	(110,000)	(171,000)
Net income - Res-Care, Inc.	16,904,000	11,368,000	10,279,000	11,332,000	18,260,000	12,268,000	4,830,000	5,765,000	49,883,000	41,123,000	53,163,000
Additional disclosures
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of tax							4,400,000
Reduction to income tax expense related to the reinstatement of the jobs credit provisions retroactive to January 1, 2012		100,000		3,300,000	0	0	0	0	(3,400,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt							7,100,000			7,129,000
Net income, before tax									70,856,000	66,773,000	61,841,000
Net income, after tax									49,773,000	41,013,000	41,836,000
Overstatement | Pharmacy operation | Erroneous physical inventory adjustment
Quarterly Data (unaudited)
Gross profit			1,000,000
Additional disclosures
Gross profit, net of tax			600,000
Adjustment
Quarterly Data (unaudited)
Revenues		(1,300,000)
Amount of current period adjustment related to a prior period			(400,000)	(400,000)						(500,000)
Additional disclosures
Net income, before tax		(2,300,000)
Net income, after tax		(1,400,000)
Adjustment | Pharmacy operation | Erroneous physical inventory adjustment
Quarterly Data (unaudited)
Gross profit		(1,000,000)
Additional disclosures
Gross profit, net of tax		$ (600,000)