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Dr. Brenda Estrada Geriatrician · Ciudad Juárez

Geriatric service

Depression, anxiety and insomnia · Ciudad Juárez

Assessment of depression, anxiety and insomnia within overall health.

  • Office and home visits
  • Bring someone with you
  • Written plan

When to consult

When should you consult about mood or sleep?

In older adults depression often wears a disguise: unexplained pain, loss of appetite, apathy or memory complaints that look like dementia.

When to consult

  • You lost interest in what you used to enjoy.
  • You sleep poorly, wake in the early hours or sleep all day.
  • You eat less or lost weight without a clear cause.
  • You withdrew, get irritated easily or feel like a burden.

Before your visit

  • Track a week of sleep: bedtime, awakenings, naps.
  • List your medications: several disturb sleep or mood.
  • If possible, come with someone you trust.

Important points

  • Sleeping pills in older adults increase falls and confusion: safer alternatives exist.
  • Thoughts of death or self-harm need immediate attention, not a scheduled visit.
  • Grief needs support, but it is not always depression.

During the visit

What is evaluated during the visit?

01 Depression and anxiety scales validated in older adults
02 Telling depression, grief, apathy and cognitive decline apart
03 Insomnia workup: sleep hygiene, apnea, night-time pain
04 Drugs and substances that disturb sleep and mood
05 Medical conditions that present as depression
06 Risk and a safety plan when required
07 Safe drug treatment, if indicated
08 Sleep strategies without sedatives

Step by step

From assessment to a practical plan

01

Book your visit

By WhatsApp or phone. We confirm the time and the current fee before closing the appointment.

02

Prepare your documents

ID, recent test results, prescriptions and every medication, supplements included.

03

The assessment, unhurried

We apply mood scales and assess sleep, separating the emotional, the medical and the pharmacological.

04

Written plan and follow-up

You leave with your instructions explained, the treatment adjustments and the date of the next check.

Expected results

What you can expect from this care

Every person progresses differently; these are realistic goals, adjusted at each follow-up.

Short term
  • A clear picture of what is and is not happening
  • Personalized sleep hygiene
  • Gradual withdrawal of risky sedatives
Medium term
  • Mood improving on doses right for your age
  • Sleeping through the night with less help
  • Appetite and energy coming back
Long term
  • Return to activities and social life
  • Stable sleep without drug dependence
  • Better memory and concentration

Scientific backing

Trustworthy, verifiable sources

The recommendations on this page follow the guidance of these organizations:

Educational content: it does not replace an individual medical assessment.

Get your mood and rest back

Message me on WhatsApp: I answer personally and we book the right assessment, at the office or at home.

Contact

Leave your details and I will call you during office hours.

Office hours Monday to Friday · 3:00 to 8:00 pmSaturday · 9:00 am to 1:00 pmSunday · closed

Phone and WhatsApp 656 582 1954

Is this an emergency? Chest pain, trouble breathing or a fall with a hard blow do not wait for an appointment: go to the emergency department or call 911.

Leave your details and I will contact you

We get back to you during the next office hours.

Who is the consultation for?

Please do not share clinical data here: we go through it in consultation.

From the blog

Related notes

The questions that come up most in consultation, explained calmly and without jargon.

Frequently asked questions

About this service

Question not here? Send me a WhatsApp message and I will answer personally.

Ask on WhatsApp
Are antidepressants safe at this age?

Yes, choosing the right drug, starting low and monitoring. We avoid the ones that cause confusion, falls or low blood pressure.

What if it is dementia and not depression?

They are told apart with cognitive and mood evaluation. Sometimes they coexist; treating depression noticeably improves memory.