Day care centers are rapidly expanding in Brazil to meet the needs of the increasing older population. However, health profiles of their clients remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and compare the health conditions of users and nonusers of a day care center using a new frailty index, the Kihon Checklist.

This was a cross-sectional observational study. We recruited 59 users (mean age 81.1 ± 6.69 years) and 173 nonusers (mean age 69.9 ± 7.39 years). The nonusers were recruited at a recreational club and municipal health units, and the users were recruited at a day care center for the elderly in Brazil. Measurements consisted of questionnaires regarding sociodemographic and health-related characteristics and the Kihon Checklist.

Compared with the nonusers, users had a higher prevalence of frailty (p < 0.001) and impairment of all specific domains (instrumental activities of daily living impairment, p < 0.001; physical inactivity, p < 0.001; seclusion, p < 0.001; cognitive deficit, p < 0.001; and depression, p < 0.001). The users were also more likely to be frail [odds ratio (OR), 14.226; 95% confidence interval (CI), 5.423–37.320; p < 0.001], dependence in instrumental activities of daily living (OR, 78.845; 95% CI, 19.569–317.674; p < 0.001), physically inactive (OR, 3.509; 95% CI, 1.467–8.394; p = 0.005), cognitively impaired (OR, 5.887; 95% CI, 2.360–14.686; p < 0.001), and depressed (OR, 5.175; 95% CI, 2.322–11.531; p < 0.001) than the nonusers.

The users of the day care center were frailer than nonusers, especially with regard to independence in instrumental activities of daily living, physical strength, cognitive function, and mood. Health care workers should use the Kihon Checklist to verify frequently the condition of elderly patients to prevent worsening of frailty.