SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 404,200	$ 380,200	$ 378,800	$ 370,500	$ 366,300	$ 361,600	$ 360,700	$ 348,800			$ 1,533,680	$ 1,437,454	$ 1,280,541
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization											900,726	833,055	725,915
General and administrative expenses											482,300	503,400	452,400
Provision for doubtful accounts											25,059	19,519	14,053
Depreciation and amortization											17,123	19,678	20,036
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											28,712	0	0
Asset impairment charge					$ 4,400				$ 2,100	$ 75,200	1,323	4,432	77,268
Operating expenses											1,455,156	1,380,114	1,289,707
Operating income (loss)											78,524	57,340	(9,166)
Home Health [Member] | Reportable Business Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue											1,101,800	1,085,500	1,005,100
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization											670,900	643,700	584,200
General and administrative expenses											278,400	283,400	263,200
Provision for doubtful accounts											17,900	13,800	12,200
Depreciation and amortization											3,500	6,000	5,200
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											0
Asset impairment charge											1,300	0	0
Operating expenses											972,000	946,900	864,800
Operating income (loss)											129,800	138,600	140,300
Hospice [Member] | Reportable Business Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue											371,000	316,000	275,400
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization											184,800	163,100	141,700
General and administrative expenses											76,600	70,200	62,700
Provision for doubtful accounts											5,900	5,500	1,900
Depreciation and amortization											900	1,300	1,400
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											0
Asset impairment charge											0	0	0
Operating expenses											268,200	240,100	207,700
Operating income (loss)											102,800	75,900	67,700
Personal Care [Member] | Reportable Business Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue											60,900	35,900	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization											45,000	26,300	0
General and administrative expenses											13,600	7,900	0
Provision for doubtful accounts											1,300	200	0
Depreciation and amortization											200	0	0
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											0
Asset impairment charge											0	0	0
Operating expenses											60,100	34,400	0
Operating income (loss)											800	1,500	0
Other [Member] | Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue											0	0	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization											0	0	0
General and administrative expenses											113,700	141,900	126,500
Provision for doubtful accounts											0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization											12,500	12,400	13,400
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											28,700
Asset impairment charge											0	4,400	77,300
Operating expenses											154,900	158,700	217,200
Operating income (loss)											$ (154,900)	$ (158,700)	$ (217,200)