-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TMOO6dLnOpzFnT3fudiypXc8oJTyArO+j+N48Q6c/csXAZxbnB0uU7eylWoVb2Xq
 RUcQalOCh5KefO4utTFkQw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-08-000168.txt : 20081201
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-08-000168.hdr.sgml : 20081201
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081201155642
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-08-000168
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081201
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILENSKY GAIL R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018538

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15669
		FILM NUMBER:		081222340

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PROJECT HOPE
		STREET 2:		7500 OLD GEORGETOWN RD STE 600
		CITY:			BETHESDA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20814
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3016567401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001096142
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES [8082]
		IRS NUMBER:				364335801
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0101

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE 2S
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747-8943
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6315017000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE 2S
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747-8943

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OLSTEN HEALTH SERVICES HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991001
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001096142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GTIV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001018538</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILENSKY GAIL R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7500 OLD GEORGETOWN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BETHESDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20814</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>574</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>574</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11959</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The common stock units of Gentiva Health Services, Inc. are convertible to shares of common stock of Gentiva at a conversion ratio of one unit for one share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The common stock units are convertible upon the date of termination of service to the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stacy S. Ingram, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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