-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HTKquRw9YQ9PdJ5o3WprrO8RSyZCgmPmo8Ykv/CR2TBdvaRSQF5oG1VehK7ySlK0
 m+XY3ThaHSlor5zmwHbYkg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-04-000012.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-04-000012.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105154204
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-04-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLECHSCHMIDT EDWARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186623

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15669
		FILM NUMBER:		04504675

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC
		STREET 2:		3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11733
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045274000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001096142
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HEALTH SERVICES [8000]
		IRS NUMBER:				364335801
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001096142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GTIV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186623</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLECHSCHMIDT EDWARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1550 MT. PLEASANT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VILLANOVA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19085</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>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>902</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></underlyingSecurityTitl
e><underlyingSecurityShares><value>902</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3884</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><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/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Phillip A. Bradley, by power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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