Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	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
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues	$ 421,012	$ 409,934	$ 396,233	$ 389,454	$ 405,027	$ 396,838	$ 399,902	$ 397,342	$ 1,616,633	$ 1,599,109	$ 1,579,335
Operating expenses									1,512,910	1,489,950	1,475,435
Operating income									103,723	109,159	103,900
Other (income) expenses:
Interest, net									32,867	35,257	42,059
Loss on extinguishment of debt							7,100			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 (benefit) expense									21,083	25,760	20,005
Income from continuing operations									49,773	41,013	41,836
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax											11,156
Net income	16,904	11,334	10,239	11,296	18,235	12,244	4,799	5,735	49,773	41,013	52,992
Net loss-noncontrolling interest		(34)	(40)	(36)	(25)	(24)	(31)	(30)	(110)	(110)	(171)
Net income - Res-Care, Inc.	16,904	11,368	10,279	11,332	18,260	12,268	4,830	5,765	49,883	41,123	53,163
Other comprehensive income (loss):
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
ResCare, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues									241,840	252,422	257,792
Operating expenses									257,901	274,339	275,681
Operating income									(16,061)	(21,917)	(17,889)
Other (income) expenses:
Interest, net									31,686	34,329	42,124
Loss on extinguishment of debt										7,129
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(83,428)	(79,689)	(74,002)
Total other expenses, net									(51,742)	(38,231)	(31,878)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									35,681	16,314	13,989
Income tax (benefit) expense									(14,202)	(24,809)	(19,414)
Income from continuing operations											33,403
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax											19,760
Net income									49,883	41,123	53,163
Net income - Res-Care, Inc.									49,883	41,123	53,163
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(579)	206	(433)
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.									49,304	41,329	52,730
Total comprehensive income									49,304	41,329	52,730
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues									1,372,058	1,343,482	1,319,735
Operating expenses									1,251,934	1,212,102	1,197,406
Operating income									120,124	131,380	122,329
Other (income) expenses:
Interest, net									1,190	939	(55)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(261)	(232)
Total other expenses, net									929	707	(55)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									119,195	130,673	122,384
Income tax (benefit) expense									35,383	50,683	39,590
Income from continuing operations											82,794
Net income									83,812	79,990	82,794
Net income - Res-Care, Inc.									83,812	79,990	82,794
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.									83,812	79,990	82,794
Total comprehensive income									83,812	79,990	82,794
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Revenues									2,735	3,205	1,808
Operating expenses									3,075	3,509	2,348
Operating income									(340)	(304)	(540)
Other (income) expenses:
Interest, net									(9)	(11)	(10)
Total other expenses, net									(9)	(11)	(10)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(331)	(293)	(530)
Income tax (benefit) expense									(98)	(114)	(171)
Income from continuing operations											(359)
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax											(8,604)
Net income									(233)	(179)	(8,963)
Net loss-noncontrolling interest									(110)	(110)	(171)
Net income - Res-Care, Inc.									(123)	(69)	(8,792)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(579)	206	(433)
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.									(702)	137	(9,225)
Total comprehensive income									(812)	27	(9,396)
Eliminations
Other (income) expenses:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									83,689	79,921	74,002
Total other expenses, net									83,689	79,921	74,002
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(83,689)	(79,921)	(74,002)
Income from continuing operations											(74,002)
Net income									(83,689)	(79,921)	(74,002)
Net income - Res-Care, Inc.									(83,689)	(79,921)	(74,002)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments									579	(206)	433
Comprehensive income attributable to Res-Care, Inc.									(83,110)	(80,127)	(73,569)
Total comprehensive income									$ (83,110)	$ (80,127)	$ (73,569)