QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA - (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2016	Oct. 02, 2015	Jul. 03, 2015	Apr. 03, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 01, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA - (UNAUDITED)
Net service revenues	$ 145,217	$ 131,232	$ 127,366	$ 128,399	$ 124,756	$ 125,540	$ 125,193	$ 120,340	$ 532,214	$ 495,829	$ 356,912
Gross margin	67,521	61,757	61,023	60,072	58,366	59,020	59,636	54,813	250,372	231,835	166,364
Income from continuing operations attributable to Almost Family, Inc.									20,009	13,763	8,226
Discontinued operations											(558)
Net income attributable to Almost Family, Inc.	$ 2,760	$ 7,799	$ 5,010	$ 4,394	$ 4,747	$ 3,782	$ 3,961	$ 1,273	$ 19,541	$ 13,524	$ 8,048
Average shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	9,775	9,604	9,393	9,353	9,352	9,347	9,338	9,293	9,505	9,333	9,279
Diluted (in shares)	10,000	9,822	9,569	9,521	9,474	9,443	9,431	9,426	9,745	9,462	9,374
Net income attributable to Almost Family, Inc. per share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.81	$ 0.53	$ 0.47	$ 0.50	$ 0.40	$ 0.42	$ 0.14	$ 2.11	$ 1.47	$ 0.89
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.79	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 0.49	$ 0.40	$ 0.42	$ 0.14	$ 2.05	$ 1.45	$ 0.88