Exit Activities (Detail) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Agencies	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Agencies	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) Agencies
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets		$ 184	$ 2,967	$ 1,752
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business		$ 413	$ 4,233	$ 5,146
Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers available for sale | Agencies	28		0	3
Number of care centers consolidated | Agencies			21	41
Number of care centers sold | Agencies				19
Number of care centers closed | Agencies			22	10
Hospice [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers consolidated | Agencies			4	5
Number of care centers sold | Agencies				1
Number of care centers closed | Agencies			4
Severance For Regional Leadership And Corporate Support [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs			$ 3,400
Severance For Former Executive [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs			2,300
Alaska and Washington Care Centers [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets				$ 1,000
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business				$ 1,600
Alaska and Washington Care Centers [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers sold | Agencies				2
Alaska and Washington Care Centers [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers sold | Agencies				1
Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets			2,100
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business			$ 5,000
Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers sold | Agencies			5
Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers sold | Agencies			4
Unconsolidated Joint Venture [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets				$ (700)
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business				$ 500
Number of care centers sold | Agencies				1
Available For Sale [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets			$ 800	$ 700
Proceeds from Divestiture of Business			$ 800	$ 1,400
Number of care centers consolidated | Agencies			1
Number of care centers sold | Agencies			2	17
Number of care centers closed | Agencies				8
Not Included In Available For Sale [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of care centers closed | Agencies				2
Hospice Inpatient Unit [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets			$ (500)
Number of care centers closed | Agencies			1
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Lease Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs				$ 1,500
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs				1,800
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Goodwill And Other Intangibles Impairment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs				3,600
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Available For Sale [Member] | Lease Termination [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Discontinued Operations Liability				500
2013 Exit Activity [Member] | Available For Sale [Member] | Intangibles Write Off [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Discontinued Operations Liability				$ 100
2014 Exit Activity [Member] | Lease Termination [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs			$ 2,100
2014 Exit Activity [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs			2,100
2014 Exit Activity [Member] | Intangibles Write Off [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other Restructuring Costs			$ 2,200