By LOU HATTER

By LOU HATTER

Rappahannock Ncw> Staff Writer

“The Hospice helps people live until they die,” explained Susan Taylor, executive director of the Hospice of the Rapidan. The Hospice is a volunteer organization dedicated to helping the terminally ill and their families preserve the quality of life in the patient’s final months.

Sam Aitken, a member of the Hospice’s board of directors, said that the Hospice concept takes over when medical hope is gone, generally when the patient has six months or less to live. “We don’t provide medical care. We provide support for the patient and their family. Often these people are in desperate shape — physically and psychologically. They — or their families — are unable to go it alone any more.”

Mr. Aitken said that his involvement with the Hospice concept began four or five years ago. “We had two friends with terminal illnesses, one in Baltimore and one here. The well-being of the patient and their family under Hospice care was much better that those trying to do it alone.”

After that experience Mr. Aitken and his wife Pat became part of the organizational effort behind the Hospice of the Rapidan, which serves Culpeper, Madison, Orange and part of Rappahannock counties. “We work together with the Fauquier Hospice to serve Rappahannock.”

“The need here was much greater than we anticipated. We have served 44 families in two years,” Ms. Taylor said. “It’s growing, almost doubled. It will probably double again — we’ll serve 45 to 60 families this year.”

Mr. Aitken explained that the Hospice’s services vary according to each patient. “We try to provide for their needs. Lots of times they just need someone to talk to. There’s a lot of fear associated with dying; we try to alleviate those fears.”

Ms. Taylor added that “the whole goal of Hospice is to make life the best possible.” The Hospice volun