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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2026 57 Life After Loss Health and Self-Care, Part 4 Part four in our series on health and self-care focuses on dealing with the healthcare system. e death of a loved one, while also dealing with our own physical limitations, can make navigating healthcare overwhelming. But, with the right strategies, it is possible to make informed decisions, reduce personal stress, and obtain the health care you need. 1. Know your Insurance Plan and Providers: Learn key terms like premiums, deductibles, co-pays. Find the right specialist with the recommendations given by your primary care doctor. You can contact your health insurance to get a list of medical providers that are in your network. 2. Build a support team: Family members, friends, or patient advocates can help clarify treatment plans, protect your rights, help with technology details and ensure your communication is clear. Consider bringing a trusted person to appointments to take notes and ask questions. 3. Advocate for yourself: Be proactive in asking questions, requesting second opinions, and challenging billing errors. Seek help from others in understanding dicult healthcare jargon. Review your medical bills to ensure accuracy. Create a budget that includes unexpected medical expenses. 4. Prepare for appointments: Before seeing a provider, review your symptoms, bring a list of medications, and write down questions in advance. Conrm appointment details, including location, time, and any required paperwork. 5. Use tools and resources: Where possible, utilize online health portals, and telemedicine to access care more eciently. Take advantage of online patient portals to track lab results and schedule appointments. Keep your medical records organized and accessible, and know how to request them. 6. Communicate eectively: Use plain language to ask about treatment options, costs, and potential side eects. If you have language or cultural barriers, request interpretation services. 7. Focus on prevention and coordination: Regular check-ups, preventive screenings, and coordinated care between specialists and primary providers can prevent complications and reduce costs. While there are no absolute guarantees, by combining knowledge of your insurance, building a support network, and staying proactive, you can navigate the healthcare system more condently and ensure you receive timely, appropriate, and cost- eective care. e Life Aer Loss Group is about people helping people who have encountered any form of grief/loss in their life. Should you desire a deeper understanding of what it means to live a more meaningful "life aer loss," we invite you to join us. Unless otherwise notied, we meet the rst and third Mondays of each month from 1 to 3 pm in RCN Activity Room #3. All information is kept strictly condential. If you have experienced a form of grief/loss and would like to join the group, please text/call Byron omsen beforehand at (909) 936-7097 or email him at byron.thomsen@yahoo.com. ~ Byron omsen If you were at The Courts on the evening of May 31, you were at The Gathering. You would have had a wonderful and uplifting time. With over 40 people in attendance, we shared songs, prayer, and fellowship. Kathie and Niles Sundstrom shared their testimonies, detailing their spiritual journey before and after accepting Jesus as their Savior. This time was interspersed with singing. We then broke up into small groups where anyone who wanted could share where and when they encountered the Lord as their Savior. On July 26 we will celebrate the first anniversary of The Gathering with a potluck. The Gathering meets at The Courts on the last Sunday of the month at 6 pm. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Kathie Sundstrom at (303) 903-6850 or kathryn.buck@comcast. net; or Jim Dobos at (760) 486-8606 or jimd70x7@gmail.com. ~ Niles and Kathie Sundstrom The Gathering

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