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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L7zAu3YMjNUP1Hg+KePf9tzwttKb06IHRJsUGgzFyKsnpfDqvDH3yTiy29i43xEi
 wLMB42w3nZ8fG5M+gW22Rg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-11-000005.txt : 20110107
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-11-000005.hdr.sgml : 20110107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110107141642
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-11-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Strange Tony
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001354350

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15669
		FILM NUMBER:		11516950

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

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:		3350 RIVERWOOD PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1400
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7709516450

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3350 RIVERWOOD PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1400
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30339

	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>2011-01-05</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001354350</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Strange Tony</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3350 RIVERWOOD PKWY, SUITE 1400</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30339</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO &amp; President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>262052.785</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85662</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by RT Management, LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.58</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>51200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-01-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>51200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents grant of restricted stock that vests 100% on the third anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are held indirectly through RT Management, LLC, of which Mr. Strange is a Manager and an owner. Rodney D. Windley, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, is also a Manager of and an owner of RT Management, LLC. Mr. Strange and Mr. Windley own approximately 75% and 25%, respectively, of the interests in the equity securities of the Issuer held by RT Management, LLC. Mr. Strange disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The options vest over three years, with 1/3 vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James L. Thornton, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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