Intangible Assets (Schedule Of Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Definite and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [LIne Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets, Gross Asset	$ 34,499	$ 34,456
Definite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	(32,772)	(32,055)
Definite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value	1,727us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	2,401us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Intangible assets, Gross Asset	88,799	88,611
Intangible assets, Net Book Value	56,027	56,556
VITAS Trade Name [Member]
Definite and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [LIne Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	51,300	51,300
Rapid Rooter Trade Name [Member]
Definite and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [LIne Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	150	150
Operating Licenses [Member]
Definite and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [LIne Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	2,850	2,705
Referral Networks [Member]
Definite and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [LIne Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets, Gross Asset	22,599	22,599
Definite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	(21,626)	(21,219)
Definite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value	973	1,380
Covenants Not To Compete [Member]
Definite and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [LIne Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets, Gross Asset	9,575	9,570
Definite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	(9,209)	(9,096)
Definite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value	366	474
Customer Lists [Member]
Definite and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [LIne Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets, Gross Asset	1,219	1,222
Definite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	(1,194)	(1,170)
Definite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value	25	52
Reacquired Franchise Rights [Member]
Definite and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [LIne Items]
Definite-lived intangible assets, Gross Asset	1,106	1,065
Definite-lived intangible assets, Accumulated amortization	(743)	(570)
Definite-lived intangible assets, Net Book Value	$ 363	$ 495

Name:	che_DefiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Intangible assets are assets, not including financial assets, lacking physical substance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=che_ReferralNetworksMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_FranchiseRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=che_RapidRooterTradeNameMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: