Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 10,239	$ 4,799	$ 21,535	$ 10,534
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,531	8,202	16,726	17,009
Amortization of discount and deferred debt issuance costs on notes			1,742	1,267
Share-based compensation			1,552	2,025
Deferred income taxes, net			2,347	624
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			3,343	2,885
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of original issue discount paid				6,400
Loss from sale of assets			100	95
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(13,279)	(16,320)
Cash provided by operating activities			34,066	24,519
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(8,212)	(7,415)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(2,234)	(8,662)
Proceeds from sale of assets			184	43
Cash used in investing activities			(10,262)	(16,034)
Financing activities:
Long-term debt repayments			(9,280)	(168,866)
Long-term debt borrowings				175,000
Payments on obligations under capital leases			(3,499)	(3,003)
Debt issuance costs			(2)	(3,978)
Cash used in financing activities			(12,781)	(847)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(81)	9
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			10,942	7,647
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			50,134	25,651
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	61,076	33,298	61,076	33,298
ResCare, Inc.
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	10,279	4,830	21,611	10,595
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			8,826	9,107
Amortization of discount and deferred debt issuance costs on notes			1,742	1,267
Share-based compensation			1,552	2,025
Deferred income taxes, net			2,347	624
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			505	417
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of original issue discount paid				6,400
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(24,576)	(17,332)	(40,791)	(32,951)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(9,356)	(21,132)
Cash provided by operating activities			(13,564)	(23,648)
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(4,242)	(4,942)
Cash used in investing activities			(4,242)	(4,942)
Financing activities:
Long-term debt repayments			(8,737)	(167,447)
Long-term debt borrowings				175,000
Debt issuance costs			(2)	(3,978)
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			41,677	35,617
Cash used in financing activities			32,938	39,192
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			15,132	10,602
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			42,633	16,733
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	57,765	27,335	57,765	27,335
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	24,978	17,369	41,386	33,074
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			7,820	7,813
Provision for losses on accounts receivable			2,838	2,468
Loss from sale of assets			100	95
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(304)	(40)	(447)	(84)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(4,363)	7,915
Cash provided by operating activities			47,334	51,281
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(3,940)	(2,340)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(2,234)	(8,662)
Proceeds from sale of assets			184	43
Cash used in investing activities			(5,990)	(10,959)
Financing activities:
Long-term debt repayments			(179)	(1,294)
Payments on obligations under capital leases			(3,499)	(3,003)
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			(39,687)	(39,055)
Cash used in financing activities			(43,365)	(43,352)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(81)	9
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			(2,102)	(3,021)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			4,795	6,547
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,693	3,526	2,693	3,526
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(138)	(28)	(224)	(100)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			80	89
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			440	(3,103)
Cash provided by operating activities			296	(3,114)
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(30)	(133)
Cash used in investing activities			(30)	(133)
Financing activities:
Long-term debt repayments			(364)	(125)
Net payments relating to intercompany financing			(1,990)	3,438
Cash used in financing activities			(2,354)	3,313
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			(2,088)	66
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			2,706	2,371
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	618	2,437	618	2,437
Eliminations
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(24,880)	(17,372)	(41,238)	(33,035)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	$ 24,880	$ 17,372	$ 41,238	$ 33,035