It took more than four months, but Kindred Healthcare wouldn’t take no for an answer.

The Louisville-based long-term health care company announced Thursday its $1.8 billion cash, stock and debt acquisition of Gentiva Health Services, a deal that could create the nation’s largest rehabilitation and hospice services provider. In May, Gentiva adopted a poison pill to try and ward off Kindred’s advances, which included an initial $514 million cash offer for the target company.