Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 366,300	$ 361,600	$ 360,700	$ 348,800	$ 338,400	$ 326,400	$ 314,100	$ 301,600	$ 1,437,454	$ 1,280,541	$ 1,204,554
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									833,055	725,915	691,061
General and administrative expenses									503,400	452,400	441,700
Provision for doubtful accounts									19,519	14,053	16,294
Depreciation and amortization									19,678	20,036	28,307
Asset impairment charge									4,432	77,268	3,107
Operating expenses									1,380,114	1,289,707	1,180,507
Operating income (loss)									57,340	(9,166)	24,047
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue									1,085,500	1,005,100	956,900
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									643,700	584,200	559,400
General and administrative expenses									283,400	263,200	269,000
Provision for doubtful accounts									13,800	12,200	14,800
Depreciation and amortization									6,000	5,200	9,000
Asset impairment charge									0	0	1,600
Operating expenses									946,900	864,800	853,800
Operating income (loss)									138,600	140,300	103,100
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue									316,000	275,400	247,600
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									163,100	141,700	131,700
General and administrative expenses									70,200	62,700	58,300
Provision for doubtful accounts									5,500	1,900	1,500
Depreciation and amortization									1,300	1,400	2,100
Asset impairment charge									0	0	1,500
Operating expenses									240,100	207,700	195,100
Operating income (loss)									75,900	67,700	52,500
Personal Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue									35,900	0	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									26,300	0	0
General and administrative expenses									7,900	0	0
Provision for doubtful accounts									200	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Asset impairment charge									0	0	0
Operating expenses									34,400	0	0
Operating income (loss)									1,500	0	0
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue									0	0	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
General and administrative expenses									141,900	126,500	114,400
Provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									12,400	13,400	17,200
Asset impairment charge									4,400	77,300	0
Operating expenses									158,700	217,200	131,600
Operating income (loss)									$ (158,700)	$ (217,200)	$ (131,600)