Gains made during rehabilitation following stroke were maintained or improved by the majority of rehabilitants when assessed 2-12 yr later. Five measures of rehabilitative activity studied were self care, mobility, amount of time spent at the rehabilitant''s major daily activity, vocational status and overall rehabilitative status. Independent variables that correlated positively with these rehabilitative functions were living at home, rather than in a nursing home, and the rehabilitant''s having an accepting, rather than non-accepting, attitude about his present status. The functional levels of rehabilitation were also maintained through education of the rehabilitant and his family and use of public health nursing and community resources. Interviewed rehabilitants in this study maintained the gains in function achieved during stroke rehabiltation throughout the long survival time, averaging 7-8 yr, and functional loss, when it did occur, was usually secondary to a superimposed health problem. The gains in the level of functioning achieved during stroke rehabilitation persisted in long-surviving stroke patients, and the quality of life was enhanced from the perspectives of the patient and his family.