40 Did a solicitor write this? Non-legal and non-medical practitioners as catalysts for values-driven ACPs

<h3></h3> Natural Death Advocacy Network will showcase the role of non-medical and non-legal practitioners, in fostering death literacy and empowering individuals to align their Advance Care Plans (ACPs) with the values they lived by. Through public events, one-on-one conversations, and incidental discussions, these practitioners facilitate unhurried meaningful end-of-life conversations that extend beyond medical and legal frameworks. Without the time pressure experienced by medical and legal professionals, they help individuals articulate not only their care preferences but also their ethical and environmental values—particularly regarding natural burial and sustainable body disposal options. By supporting open dialogue, they ensure that ACPs reflect personal beliefs, legacy intentions, and ecological considerations. As a collective voice from the Natural Death Advocacy Network (NDAN), this presentation brings a grassroots perspective to the evolving role of non-medical and non-legal practitioners in community-based death literacy. While ACPs are often framed around medical decisions, NDAN emphasizes their broader outcome—to honour a person’s values, including their commitment to sustainability and natural death care. By sharing insights from practice, this presentation demonstrates how these practitioners serve as crucial connectors between individuals, families, and emerging options such as natural burial, alkaline hydrolysis, natural organic reduction, and other environmentally conscious choices. This work complements the roles of healthcare and legal professionals by ensuring that ACPs are not just clinical documents but holistic reflections of an individual’s lived values. The work of non-medical and non-legal practitioners within NDAN represents a vital aspect of end-of-life planning. While healthcare and legal professionals provide essential guidance on formal ACP documentation, these practitioners support individuals in deepening and personalizing their plans—ensuring they reflect sustainability, connection to nature, and autonomy in death care. This presentation advocates for greater policy recognition of non-medical roles in end-of-life decision-making, particularly in helping individuals articulate environmental and ethical considerations—aspects that are frequently absent from traditional ACP discussions. This presentation aligns with the Practice and Lived Experience stream by illustrating how NDAN-affiliated practitioners contribute to death literacy through real-world community engagement. It also connects with themes of sustainable and values-based end-of-life choices, demonstrating how these conversations lead to more personalized and ecologically conscious ACPs. By expanding the understanding of ACPs beyond medical directives, this submission underscores how non-medical and non-legal practitioners contribute to a more inclusive, meaningful, and values-driven approach to end-of-life planning.