Of a series of 87 severely disabled stroke patients admitted to a rehabilitation ward, approximately one month after onset, half were discharged home, a quarter died and a quarter were transferred to long-stay accommodation. The factors associated with a favourable outcome were age under 65 and the absence of severe cognitive disturbance. Satisfactory results were obtained in alert patients with disturbances of perception or communication, or with accompanying heart disease. Simple tests of cognitive and perceptual function should be part of the clinical examination of stroke patients accepted for rehabilitation and are a useful guide to management.