We investigated relation of disability and independency in housework. Objects are 84 women who worked as housekeepers before the onset of stroke. The items of house works which are investigated are cooking, cleaning, washing, and shopping. The results are as follows: 16 women do all items, and 22 women do no items, and 46 women do partial items. According to the statistic evaluation, ability of ambulance and severity of upper extremity function most influence on the ability of house work. And higher cortical dysfunction without severe dementia make a minor influence on the ability. The patients who act as housekeepers have a normal intellectual ability, ability of outdoor walking, and mild damage of upper extremity function. Many women are given assistance by other home members, and many assistance are given if women's ability is lower. (Jpn J Rehabil Med 1999; 36: 644-648)