Supplemental Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Net revenues	$ 427,691	$ 448,712	$ 863,343	$ 899,821
Cost of services sold	222,737	234,151	455,598	464,907
Gross profit	204,954	214,561	407,745	434,914
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(163,928)	(191,638)	(337,635)	(364,371)
Dividend income		4,613		4,613
Gain on sale of assets	5,447		5,447
Interest (expense) income and other, net	(22,655)	(20,786)	(44,157)	(47,669)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	0		0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix	23,818	6,750	31,400	27,487
Income tax expense	(9,646)	(2,412)	(12,175)	(10,531)
Equity in net earnings of CareCentrix		336		890
Income (loss) from continuing operations	14,172	4,674	19,225	17,846
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	666	0	1,113
Net income	14,172	5,340	19,225	18,959
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(263)	(151)	(476)	(318)
Net income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	13,909	5,189	18,749	18,641
Comprehensive income	14,172	5,340	19,225	18,481
Gentiva Health Services, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Net revenues	0		0
Cost of services sold	0		0
Gross profit	0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0		0
Gain on sale of assets	0		0
Interest (expense) income and other, net	(22,678)	(20,799)	(44,221)	(47,699)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	26,850	18,001	44,937	48,024
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix	4,172	(2,798)	716	325
Income tax expense	9,737	7,987	18,033	18,316
Income (loss) from continuing operations	13,909	5,189	18,749	18,641
Discontinued operations, net of tax			0
Net income	13,909	5,189	18,749	18,641
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	13,909	5,189	18,749	18,641
Comprehensive income	13,909	5,189	18,749	18,163
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Net revenues	416,774	438,576	840,201	880,021
Cost of services sold	216,455	232,800	445,056	460,447
Gross profit	200,319	205,776	395,145	419,574
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(159,965)	(187,809)	(329,513)	(357,185)
Dividend income		4,613		4,613
Gain on sale of assets	5,447		5,447
Interest (expense) income and other, net	0		0
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	53	3,435	2,213	5,726
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix	45,854	26,015	73,292	72,728
Income tax expense	(19,004)	(8,851)	(28,355)	(26,421)
Equity in net earnings of CareCentrix		336		890
Income (loss) from continuing operations	26,850	17,500	44,937	47,197
Discontinued operations, net of tax		501	0	827
Net income	26,850	18,001	44,937	48,024
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	26,850	18,001	44,937	48,024
Comprehensive income	26,850	18,001	44,937	48,024
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Net revenues	13,930	12,827	28,243	25,502
Cost of services sold	9,295	4,042	15,643	10,162
Gross profit	4,635	8,785	12,600	15,340
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(3,963)	(3,829)	(8,122)	(7,186)
Gain on sale of assets	0		0
Interest (expense) income and other, net	23	13	64	30
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	0		0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix	695	4,969	4,542	8,184
Income tax expense	(379)	(1,548)	(1,853)	(2,426)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	316	3,421	2,689	5,758
Discontinued operations, net of tax		165	0	286
Net income	316	3,586	2,689	6,044
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(263)	(151)	(476)	(318)
Net income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	53	3,435	2,213	5,726
Comprehensive income	316	3,586	2,689	6,044
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
Net revenues	(3,013)	(2,691)	(5,101)	(5,702)
Cost of services sold	(3,013)	(2,691)	(5,101)	(5,702)
Gross profit	0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0		0
Gain on sale of assets	0		0
Interest (expense) income and other, net	0		0
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries	(26,903)	(21,436)	(47,150)	(53,750)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of CareCentrix	(26,903)	(21,436)	(47,150)	(53,750)
Income tax expense	0		0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(26,903)	(21,436)	(47,150)	(53,750)
Discontinued operations, net of tax			0
Net income	(26,903)	(21,436)	(47,150)	(53,750)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income attributable to Gentiva shareholders	(26,903)	(21,436)	(47,150)	(53,750)
Comprehensive income	$ (26,903)	$ (21,436)	$ (47,150)	$ (53,750)