Supplemental Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Total net revenues	$ 415,591		$ 435,652
Cost of services sold	221,573		232,861
Gross profit	194,018		202,791
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(159,877)		(173,707)
Goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment	(224,320)	[1]	0
Interest expense and other, net	(22,293)		(21,502)	[2]
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	0		0
(Loss) Income before income taxes	(212,472)		7,582
Income tax benefit (expense)	5,416		(2,529)
Net (loss) income	(207,056)		5,053
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(121)		(213)
Net (loss) income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	(207,177)		4,840
Comprehensive (loss) income	(207,056)		5,053
Gentiva Health Services, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Total net revenues	0		0
Cost of services sold	0		0
Gross profit	0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0		0
Goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment	0
Interest expense and other, net	(22,310)		(21,543)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(193,791)		17,561
(Loss) Income before income taxes	(216,101)		(3,982)
Income tax benefit (expense)	8,924		8,822
Net (loss) income	(207,177)		4,840
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	(207,177)		4,840
Comprehensive (loss) income	(207,177)		4,840
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Total net revenues	403,144		424,353
Cost of services sold	213,202		227,238
Gross profit	189,942		197,115
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(155,249)		(169,549)
Goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment	(224,320)
Interest expense and other, net	0		0
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(397)		548
(Loss) Income before income taxes	(190,024)		28,114
Income tax benefit (expense)	(3,767)		(10,553)
Net (loss) income	(193,791)		17,561
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	(193,791)		17,561
Comprehensive (loss) income	(193,791)		17,561
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Total net revenues	15,626		14,312
Cost of services sold	11,550		8,636
Gross profit	4,076		5,676
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(4,628)		(4,158)
Goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment	0
Interest expense and other, net	17		41
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	0		0
(Loss) Income before income taxes	(535)		1,559
Income tax benefit (expense)	259		(798)
Net (loss) income	(276)		761
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(121)		(213)
Net (loss) income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	(397)		548
Comprehensive (loss) income	(276)		761
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Total net revenues	(3,179)		(3,013)
Cost of services sold	(3,179)		(3,013)
Gross profit	0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0		0
Goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment	0
Interest expense and other, net	0		0
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	194,188		(18,109)
(Loss) Income before income taxes	194,188		(18,109)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0
Net (loss) income	194,188		(18,109)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	194,188		(18,109)
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ 194,188		$ (18,109)

[1] (2)At March 31, 2013, the Company performed an interim impairment test of its Hospice reporting unit. Based on the results of the interim impairment test, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge relating to goodwill of approximately $220.8 million As part of that analysis, the Company reviewed the valuation of its owned real estate utilized in the Hospice business. The analysis indicated that two of the Company's hospice inpatient units had estimated fair values lower than their carrying values and, as such, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million. See Note 7.In addition, the Company conducted an evaluation of the various systems used to support its field operations. In connection with that review, the Company made a strategic decision to replace its business intelligence software platform and, as such, recorded a non-cash impairment charge, related to developed software, of approximately $1.6 million.Hospice and corporate assets were reduced by $220.8 million and $3.5 million , respectively, as a result of the impairment.

[2] (3)For the first quarter of 2012, interest expense and other, net included charges of $0.5 million relating to the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs associated with the revolving credit facility. See Note 2 for additional information.