QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA - (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2017	Sep. 29, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jul. 01, 2016	Apr. 01, 2016	Dec. 29, 2017	Dec. 30, 2016	Jan. 01, 2016	Jan. 01, 2016
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA - (UNAUDITED)
Net service revenues	$ 200,618	$ 194,302	$ 200,733	$ 201,312	$ 153,427	$ 160,421	$ 155,996	$ 153,698	$ 796,965	$ 623,541		$ 532,214
Gross margin	95,321	90,525	96,681	95,044	69,952	74,347	72,304	71,466	377,571	288,069		250,372
Net income attributable to Almost Family, Inc.									20,414	17,653	$ 20,009	20,009
Net income attributable to Almost Family, Inc.	$ 8,835	$ 3,170	$ 4,776	$ 3,633	$ 3,593	$ 5,366	$ 4,777	$ 3,917	$ 23,937	$ 18,172		$ 19,541
Average shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	13,809	13,731	13,717	12,695	10,162	10,172	10,158	10,089	13,539	10,153		9,505
Diluted (in shares)	14,014	13,941	13,954	12,937	10,330	10,310	10,322	10,260	13,757	10,346		9,745
Net income attributable to Almost Family, Inc. per share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.23	$ 0.35	$ 0.29	$ 0.35	$ 0.53	$ 0.47	$ 0.39	$ 1.51	$ 1.74		$ 2.11
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.63	$ 0.23	$ 0.34	$ 0.28	$ 0.35	$ 0.52	$ 0.46	$ 0.38	$ 1.48	$ 1.71		$ 2.05