Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 380,163	$ 361,595	$ 1,129,442	$ 1,071,158
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	226,642	212,124	662,192	620,466
General and administrative expenses	118,900	124,400	358,500	378,500
Provision for doubtful accounts	7,086	5,471	18,078	13,664
Depreciation and amortization	4,185	5,214	13,139	14,662
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net	0	0	28,712	0
Operating expenses	356,790	347,236	1,080,664	1,027,378
Operating income (loss)	23,373	14,359	48,778	43,780
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	269,500	268,900	814,500	817,200
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	168,200	162,400	496,100	483,600
General and administrative expenses	70,900	71,800	207,700	215,300
Provision for doubtful accounts	5,400	4,000	12,600	10,800
Depreciation and amortization	900	1,600	2,700	4,400
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net	0		0
Operating expenses	245,400	239,800	719,100	714,100
Operating income (loss)	24,100	29,100	95,400	103,100
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	96,500	82,000	272,800	230,800
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	47,800	41,900	134,900	120,100
General and administrative expenses	19,000	17,600	56,200	51,800
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,200	1,400	4,800	2,800
Depreciation and amortization	200	300	700	1,000
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net	0		0
Operating expenses	68,200	61,200	196,600	175,700
Operating income (loss)	28,300	20,800	76,200	55,100
Personal Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	14,200	10,700	42,100	23,200
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	10,600	7,800	31,200	16,800
General and administrative expenses	3,100	2,300	9,200	5,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	500	100	700	100
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	100	0
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net	0		0
Operating expenses	14,200	10,200	41,200	21,900
Operating income (loss)	0	500	900	1,300
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	25,900	32,700	85,400	106,400
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	3,100	3,300	9,600	9,300
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net	0		28,700
Operating expenses	29,000	36,000	123,700	115,700
Operating income (loss)	$ (29,000)	$ (36,000)	$ (123,700)	$ (115,700)