Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
PATIENT REVENUES, net	$ 387,595	$ 344,192	$ 260,221
EXPENSES:
Operating	311,035	275,605	213,064
Lease and rent expense	28,690	26,151	20,396
Professional liability	8,122	7,216	5,666
General and administrative	24,793	22,133	20,940
Depreciation and amortization	7,524	7,078	6,363
Restructuring	0	0	1,446
Total expenses	380,164	338,183	267,875
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	7,431	6,009	(7,654)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Equity in net income (losses) of unconsolidated affiliate	339	(5)	(183)
Interest expense, net	(4,102)	(3,697)	(3,032)
Debt retirement costs	0	0	(320)
Total other income (expense)	(3,763)	(3,702)	(3,535)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	3,668	2,307	(11,189)
BENEFIT (PROVISION) FOR INCOME TAXES	(916)	(857)	4,196
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	2,752	1,450	(6,993)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating loss, net of income tax provision (benefit) of $375,000, $(878,000) and $(863,000), respectively	(1,128)	(1,486)	(1,469)
Gain on disposal, net of income tax provision of $0, $2,802,000 and $0, respectively	0	4,744	0
INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	(1,128)	3,258	(1,469)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	1,624	4,708	(8,462)
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	25	(72)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO DIVERSICARE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.	1,624	4,733	(8,534)
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS	0	(220)	(344)
NET INCOME (LOSS) FOR DIVERSICARE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC. COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 1,624	$ 4,513	$ (8,878)
Per common share – basic
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.21	$ (1.26)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.18)	0.54	(0.25)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	0.27	0.75	(1.51)
Per common share – diluted
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.44	0.20	(1.26)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.18)	0.52	(0.25)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	0.26	0.72	(1.51)
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.22
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	6,100	6,011	5,899
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	6,315	6,197	5,899