CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Non-controlling Interest Non-Redeemable	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 950	$ (2,340)	$ 103,858	$ 111,789	$ (186)	$ 214,071
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	9,500	(92)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock award maturities, net of shares surrendered or withheld	$ 1	$ (52)	156			105
Stock award maturities, net of shares surrendered or withheld (in shares)	14	(2)
Share awards and related compensation	$ 6		1,808			1,814
Share awards and related compensation (in shares)	60
Tax loss from stock-based compensation			40			40
Noncontrolling interests - redeemable fair value accretion				(6)		(6)
Net loss noncontrolling interests - nonredeemable					(234)	(234)
Net income attributable to Almost Family, Inc				13,763		13,763
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 957	$ (2,392)	105,862	125,546	(420)	229,553
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	9,574	(94)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013						3,639
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests - redeemable fair value accretion						6
Net gain (loss) noncontrolling interests - redeemable						(6)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014						3,639
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock award maturities, net of shares surrendered or withheld	$ 1	$ (339)	128			(210)
Stock award maturities, net of shares surrendered or withheld (in shares)	10	(9)
Share awards and related compensation	$ 11		2,110			2,121
Share awards and related compensation (in shares)	100
Tax loss from stock-based compensation			215			215
Stock provided in acquisitions	$ 44		18,938			18,982
Stock provided in acquisitions (in shares)	441
Noncontrolling interests - redeemable fair value accretion				(99)		(99)
Net loss noncontrolling interests - nonredeemable					(310)	(310)
Net income attributable to Almost Family, Inc				20,009		20,009
Balance at Jan. 01, 2016	$ 1,013	$ (2,731)	127,253	145,456	(730)	$ 270,261
Balance (in shares) at Jan. 01, 2016	10,125	(103)				10,125
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests - redeemable fair value accretion						$ 99
Net gain (loss) noncontrolling interests - redeemable						(99)
Balance at Jan. 01, 2016						3,639
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock award maturities, net of shares surrendered or withheld		$ (527)	230			(297)
Stock award maturities, net of shares surrendered or withheld (in shares)	1	(14)
Share awards and related compensation	$ 10		2,750			2,760
Share awards and related compensation (in shares)	98
Tax loss from stock-based compensation			353			353
Stock provided in acquisitions	$ 28		10,647			10,675
Stock provided in acquisitions (in shares)	280
Noncontrolling interests - redeemable fair value accretion				654		654
Net loss noncontrolling interests - nonredeemable					(135)	(135)
Net income attributable to Almost Family, Inc				17,653		17,653
Balance at Dec. 30, 2016	$ 1,051	$ (3,258)	$ 141,233	$ 163,763	$ (865)	$ 301,924
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 30, 2016	10,504	(117)				10,504
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquired noncontrolling interests						$ (1,383)
Noncontrolling interests - redeemable fair value accretion						(654)
Net gain (loss) noncontrolling interests - redeemable						654
Balance at Dec. 30, 2016						$ 2,256