This study was conducted to identify the adaptation process of the families with chronically ill patients. A descriptive comparative research design was used to the subjects of forty families that have stroke patients at an oriental medical hospital. Research tools were Demands of Illness Inventory(Woods, Haberman & Packard, 1987), Relative and Friend Support Index(McCubbin, Patterson & Glynn, 1982), Family Coping-Coherence Index (McCubbin, Larsen & Olson, 1982), Family Hardiness Index(McCubbin, McCubbin & Thompson, 1986), and Family Member Wellbeing Scale(McCubbin, McCubbin & Thompson, 1986). Data were collected from October 7, 1998 to November 7, 1998 at an oriental medical hospital located in IkSan city. The number of cases was forty and the data were analyzed by SPSS $PC^+$. Descriptive statistics of frequency, number, mean and standard deviation were used to report the results. The results were as follows ; 1. There was no significant differences between the two groups on the family stress. 2. There was significant differences between the two groups on the family strength (t value = - 3.09, p value=$.004^{**}$). 3. There was significant differences between the two groups on the family adaptation(t value= -2.08, pvalue=$.05^*$).