Exit Activities (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Agencies	Dec. 31, 2014 Agencies	Dec. 31, 2013 Agencies	Dec. 31, 2012 Agencies
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets		2,967,000	1,752,000	0
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business		4,233,000	5,146,000	0
Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers available for sale	28	0	3
Number of care centers consolidated		21	41	5
Number of care centers sold			19
Number of care centers closed		22	10	3
Hospice [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers consolidated		4	5	4
Number of care centers sold			1
Number of care centers closed		4
Severance For Regional Leadership And Corporate Support [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs		3,400,000
Severance For Former Executive [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs		2,300,000
Alaska and Washington Care Centers [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets			1,000,000
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business			1,600,000
Alaska and Washington Care Centers [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers sold			2
Alaska and Washington Care Centers [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers sold			1
Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets		2,100,000
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business		5,000,000
Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers sold		5
Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers sold		4
Unconsolidated Joint Venture [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets			(700,000)
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business			500,000
Number of care centers sold			1
Available For Sale [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets		800,000	700,000
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business		800,000	1,400,000
Number of care centers consolidated		1
Number of care centers sold		2	17
Number of care centers closed			8
Not Included In Available For Sale [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers closed			2
Hospice Inpatient Unit [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets		(500,000)
Number of care centers closed		1
2012 Exit Activity [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Discontinued Operations Liability				200,000
2012 Exit Activity [Member] | Lease Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs				900,000
2012 Exit Activity [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs				100,000
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Lease Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs			1,500,000
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs			1,800,000
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Goodwill And Other Intangibles Impairment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs			3,600,000
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Available For Sale [Member] | Lease Termination [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Discontinued Operations Liability			500,000
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Available For Sale [Member] | Intangibles Write Off [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Discontinued Operations Liability			100,000
2014 Exit Activity [Member] | Lease Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs		2,100,000
2014 Exit Activity [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs		2,100,000
2014 Exit Activity [Member] | Intangibles Write Off [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs		2,200,000