We prospectively followed 178 elderly people living alone prior to stroke who survived at least 30 days. At the time of hospital discharge and at months 2, 6 and 12 post-stroke one-third of survivors were living alone and half were living at home, either alone or with another person. Seventy-five per cent of survivors discharged to live alone were still living alone 6 months after stroke. Subjects discharged to live alone did not differ from other subjects with respect to age, gender or pre-stroke Barthel ADL score. The group discharged to live alone had less severe stroke deficits and higher ADL scores 1 week after stroke. This difference in ADL scores was maintained at hospital discharge and maximal recovery. Eleven variables were significant univariate predictors of discharge home to live alone. In multivariate models the strongest predictors of discharge home to live alone were high Barthel ADL score at day 7, high Mini-Mental State Score, high leg power and absence of homonymous hemianopia.