Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 361,595	$ 326,450		$ 1,071,158	$ 942,174
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	212,124	186,772		620,466	533,432
General and administrative expenses	124,400	112,600		378,500	332,100
Provision for doubtful accounts	5,471	3,638		13,664	9,370
Depreciation and amortization	5,214	4,646		14,662	15,798
Asset impairment charge	0	2,075	$ 75,200	0	77,268
Operating expenses	347,236	309,735		1,027,378	968,036
Operating income (loss)	14,359	16,715		43,780	(25,862)
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	268,900	253,400		817,200	742,600
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	162,400	150,000		483,600	431,000
General and administrative expenses	71,800	65,700		215,300	192,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,000	3,100		10,800	8,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,600	1,200		4,400	4,000
Asset impairment charge	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	239,800	220,000		714,100	635,000
Operating income (loss)	29,100	33,400		103,100	107,600
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	82,000	73,000		230,800	199,600
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	41,900	36,800		120,100	102,400
General and administrative expenses	17,600	16,100		51,800	45,800
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,400	500		2,800	1,400
Depreciation and amortization	300	300		1,000	1,000
Asset impairment charge	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	61,200	53,700		175,700	150,600
Operating income (loss)	20,800	19,300		55,100	49,000
Personal Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	10,700	0		23,200	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	7,800	0		16,800	0
General and administrative expenses	2,300	0		5,000	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	100	0		100	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0		0	0
Asset impairment charge	0	0		0	0
Operating expenses	10,200	0		21,900	0
Operating income (loss)	500	0		1,300	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	32,700	30,800		106,400	94,300
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0		0	0
Depreciation and amortization	3,300	3,100		9,300	10,800
Asset impairment charge	0	2,100		0	77,300
Operating expenses	36,000	36,000		115,700	182,400
Operating income (loss)	$ (36,000)	$ (36,000)		$ (115,700)	$ (182,400)