Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 360,746	$ 314,152		$ 709,563	$ 615,724
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	206,505	175,699		408,342	346,660
General and administrative expenses	126,700	115,600		254,200	219,600
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,253	2,756		8,193	5,732
Depreciation and amortization	4,975	4,615		9,448	11,152
Asset impairment charge	0	0	$ 75,200	0	75,193
Operating expenses	342,388	298,625		680,142	658,301
Operating income (loss)	18,358	15,527		29,421	(42,577)
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	275,500	247,800		548,200	489,200
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	160,300	142,300		321,100	281,000
General and administrative expenses	72,300	63,500		143,500	126,300
Provision for doubtful accounts	3,500	2,300		6,800	4,900
Depreciation and amortization	1,600	1,300		2,800	2,800
Asset impairment charge	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	237,700	209,400		474,200	415,000
Operating income (loss)	37,800	38,400		74,000	74,200
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	75,800	66,300		148,800	126,500
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	39,400	33,400		78,200	65,700
General and administrative expenses	17,400	15,300		34,300	29,700
Provision for doubtful accounts	700	400		1,400	800
Depreciation and amortization	300	300		600	700
Asset impairment charge	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	57,800	49,400		114,500	96,900
Operating income (loss)	18,000	16,900		34,300	29,600
Personal Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	9,400	0		12,500	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	6,800	0		9,000	0
General and administrative expenses	2,300	0		2,700	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0		0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0		0	0
Asset impairment charge	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	9,100	0		11,700	0
Operating income (loss)	300	0		800	0
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	0	0		0	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	0	0		0	0
General and administrative expenses	34,700	36,800		73,700	63,600
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0		0	0
Depreciation and amortization	3,100	3,000		6,000	7,600
Asset impairment charge	0	0		0	75,200
Operating expenses	37,800	39,800		79,700	146,400
Operating income (loss)	$ (37,800)	$ (39,800)		$ (79,700)	$ (146,400)