Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Net (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 years		Sep. 30, 2010
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Net [Line Items]
Goodwill Balances at December 31, 2010	$ 791,412,000
Additions	109,400,000
Goodwill impairment	565,000,000
Adjustments related to acquisitions
Goodwill Balances at September 30, 2011	335,811,000
Other Intangible Assets Balances at December 31, 2010	53,393,000
Other Intangible Assets, Additions	10,900,000
Write-off	(200,000)
Impairment	9,100,000
Amortization	(2,700,000)
Other Intangible Assets Balances at September 30, 2011	52,259,000
Unamortized acquired names	12,500,000
Amortized acquired names	200,000
Acquired names weighted-average amortization period, years	2.1
Non-compete weighted-average amortization period, years	2.1
Reacquired franchise rights weighted-average amortization period, years	1.8
Deferred income taxes	(133,623,000)		300,000
Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Net [Line Items]
Deferred income taxes	139,500,000
Home Health [Member]
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Net [Line Items]
Goodwill Balances at December 31, 2010	723,300,000
Goodwill impairment	(565,000,000)
Adjustments related to acquisitions
Goodwill Balances at September 30, 2011	158,300,000
Hospice [Member]
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Net [Line Items]
Goodwill Balances at December 31, 2010	68,100,000
Additions	109,400,000
Adjustments related to acquisitions
Goodwill Balances at September 30, 2011	177,500,000
Certificates Of Need And Licenses [Member]
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Net [Line Items]
Other Intangible Assets Balances at December 31, 2010	41,700,000
Other Intangible Assets, Additions	2,500,000
Write-off	(200,000)
Impairment	9,100,000
Other Intangible Assets Balances at September 30, 2011	34,900,000
Acquired Names Of Business [Member]
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Net [Line Items]
Other Intangible Assets Balances at December 31, 2010	4,700,000	[1]
Other Intangible Assets, Additions	8,100,000	[1]
Amortization	(100,000)	[1]
Other Intangible Assets Balances at September 30, 2011	12,700,000	[1]
Non-Compete Agreements & Reacquired Franchise Rights [Member]
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets, Net [Line Items]
Other Intangible Assets Balances at December 31, 2010	7,000,000	[2]
Other Intangible Assets, Additions	300,000	[2]
Amortization	(2,600,000)	[2]
Other Intangible Assets Balances at September 30, 2011	$ 4,700,000	[2]

[1] Acquired Names of Business includes $12.5 million of unamortized acquired names and $0.2 million of amortized acquired names which have a weighted-average amortization period of 2.1 years.

[2] The weighted-average amortization period of our non-compete agreements and reacquired franchise rights is 2.1 and 1.8 years, respectively