Business Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues	$ 486,137,000		$ 410,492,000	$ 414,424,000	$ 415,591,000		$ 425,017,000		$ 424,444,000		$ 427,691,000		$ 435,652,000			$ 1,726,644,000		$ 1,712,804,000		$ 1,798,778,000
Operating contribution																199,004,000		258,578,000		265,917,000
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment														(643,300,000)		(610,436,000)	[1]	(19,132,000)	[1]	(643,305,000)	[1]
Depreciation and amortization																(20,110,000)		(26,581,000)		(30,140,000)
Gain on sale of assets and businesses, net							2,600,000				5,400,000					0		8,014,000		1,061,000
Dividend income																0		0		8,590,000	[2]
Interest expense and other, net																(110,384,000)	[3]	(89,947,000)	[3]	(88,610,000)	[3]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix	(443,844,000)	[4]	6,852,000	11,392,000	(212,472,000)	[4]	18,510,000	[5]	(2,678,000)	[4]	23,818,000	[5]	7,582,000			(638,072,000)		47,232,000		(602,348,000)
Total assets	1,262,617,000						1,510,934,000							1,530,328,000		1,262,617,000		1,510,934,000		1,530,328,000
Home Health [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues																965,848,000		948,019,000		1,012,566,000
Operating contribution																113,809,000	[6]	125,445,000	[6]	126,194,000	[6]
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment																		(408,400,000)
Total assets	406,806,000						242,603,000	[1]						239,751,000	[1]	406,806,000		242,603,000	[1]	239,751,000	[1]
Hospice [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues																715,190,000		764,785,000		786,212,000
Operating contribution																78,810,000	[6]	133,133,000	[6]	139,723,000	[6]
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment	(386,100,000)																	(193,700,000)
Total assets	357,044,000	[1]					858,502,000	[1]						905,284,000	[1]	357,044,000	[1]	858,502,000	[1]	905,284,000	[1]
Community Care [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Total net revenues																45,606,000		0		0
Operating contribution																6,385,000		0		0
Total assets	172,418,000						0							0		172,418,000		0		0
Home Health and Hospice [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment																				602,100,000	[1]
Total assets	936,268,000						1,101,105,000							1,145,035,000		936,268,000		1,101,105,000		1,145,035,000
Corporate [Member]
Segment information about the Company's operations
Corporate Expenses																(96,146,000)	[6]	(83,700,000)	[6]	(115,861,000)	[6]
Goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived asset impairment																		(41,200,000)
Total assets	$ 326,349,000	[1]					$ 409,829,000							$ 385,293,000	[1]	$ 326,349,000	[1]	$ 409,829,000		$ 385,293,000	[1]

[1] The Company performed its annual impairment test as of December 31, 2013 for its Home Health, Hospice and Community Care segments. Based on this assessment, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges relating to the goodwill and intangibles of its Hospice segment of approximately $379.8 million and $6.3 million, respectively, for the year 2013.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. 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 these impairments.For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges associated with a write-off of its trade name intangibles of $19.1 million in connection with the Company's initiative to re-brand its operations under the Gentiva name. Home Health and Hospice assets were reduced by $6.0 million and $13.1 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2012 as a result of the impairment.For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges associated with goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets of $643.3 million. This charge was the result of (i) changes in the Company's business climate, (ii) uncertainties around Medicare reimbursement as the federal government worked to reduce the federal deficit, (iii) a significant decline in the price of the Company's common stock during the fiscal year, (iv) a write-down of software and (v) a change in the estimated fair value of real estate. Home Health, Hospice and corporate assets were reduced by $408.4 million, $193.7 million and $41.2 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2011, as a result of the impairment.

[2] For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recognized dividend income of $8.6 million as a result of the sale of a portion of the Company’s combined common and preferred ownership of CareCentrix.

[3] For the year ended December 31, 2013, interest expense and other, net included charges of $19.1 million relating to the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs and fees associated with the Company entering a new credit agreement, dated October 18, 2013. For the year ended December 31, 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. In addition, interest expense and other, net for the year ended December 31, 2011 included charges of $3.8 million associated with terminating the Company’s interest rate swaps in connection with the refinancing of the Company’s Term Loan A and Term Loan B under the Company’s former credit agreement. See Note 12 for additional information.

[4] For the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges relating to the goodwill and intangibles of its Hospice segment of approximately $379.8 million and $6.3 million, respectively, for the year 2013.For the first quarter of 2013, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges associated with goodwill and other long-lived assets of $224.3 million. This charge was the result of (i) changes in the Company's business climate, (ii) uncertainties around Medicare reimbursement as the federal government worked to reduce the federal deficit, (iii) a write-down of software and (iv) a change in the estimated fair value of real estate. See Notes 8 and 9.For the third quarter of 2012, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges associated with a write-off of its trade name intangibles of $19.1 million in connection with the Company's initiative to re-brand its operations under the Gentiva name.

[5] For the fourth quarter of 2012, income (loss) before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix, includes a $2.6 million pre-tax gain related to the sale of the Phoenix area hospice operations. For the second quarter of 2012, income (loss) before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix, includes a $5.4 million pre-tax gain associated with the sale of (i) the Gentiva consulting business and (ii) the sale of eight home health branches and four hospice branches in Louisiana.

[6] For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded charges relating to cost savings initiatives and other restructuring costs, acquisition and integration costs and legal settlements of $27.5 million, $5.7 million and $49.1 million, respectively. See Note 10 for additional information.The charges were reflected as follows for segment reporting purposes (in millions): 2013 2012 2011Home Health$3.3 $5.6 $7.7Hospice8.2 0.4 3.7Corporate expenses16.0 (0.3) 37.7Total$27.5 $5.7 $49.1