IntroductionStroke is a major cause of prolonged impairment in industrialized countries. Although healthcare studies suggest that relying on Assistive Products (AP), instead of personal help diminishes dysfunction and promotes independence, several authors alert to the problems of discontinuance in use or abandonment of AP. MethodsA list of 42 Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was developed and applied, along with the Barthel Index, in personal interviews to 67 stroke patients so as to assess: patients’ degree of capability in performing each task; types of help used; and how these aids were being used. Methods deriving from healthcare research were deployed alongside design research methods. This combination allowed for quantitative and qualitative data analysis. ResultsData analysis shows that stroke patients do not use AP as intended in order to achieve independence, that there is a great lack of awareness about APs and that there are APs on the market that are not suited for stroke patients’ use. ConclusionOur findings are consistent with healthcare literature on frequently used AP, but they add important data on how these are being used. Furthermore, we have identified feelings shared by the majority of patients concerning ADL performance, with fear as the overriding concern.