Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 348,817	$ 301,572
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	201,837	170,961
General and administrative expenses	127,500	104,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	3,940	2,976
Depreciation and amortization	4,473	6,537
Asset impairment charge	0	75,193
Operating expenses	337,754	359,676
Operating income (loss)	11,063	(58,104)
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	272,700	241,400
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	160,800	138,700
General and administrative expenses	71,200	62,800
Provision for doubtful accounts	3,200	2,600
Depreciation and amortization	1,300	1,500
Asset impairment charge	0	0
Operating expenses	236,500	205,600
Operating income (loss)	36,200	35,800
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	73,000	60,200
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	38,800	32,300
General and administrative expenses	16,900	14,400
Provision for doubtful accounts	700	400
Depreciation and amortization	300	400
Asset impairment charge	0	0
Operating expenses	56,700	47,500
Operating income (loss)	16,300	12,700
Personal Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	3,100	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	2,200	0
General and administrative expenses	400	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Asset impairment charge	0	0
Operating expenses	2,600	0
Operating income (loss)	500	0
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	0	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	39,000	26,800
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	2,900	4,600
Asset impairment charge	0	75,200
Operating expenses	41,900	106,600
Operating income (loss)	$ (41,900)	$ (106,600)