Retired Architect, 80, Who Designed Mansions Now Bags Groceries To Pay Late Wife's $80k Medical Bills

At 80, Richard Saling, once a celebrated architect designing luxury homes, now bags groceries at a Salt Lake City Harmons in US to cover his late wife's £60,000 ($81,000) medical bills.

His story, shared with the New York Post on 7 June 2025, reveals a heart-wrenching promise to keep his wife, Judy, at home during her final years, avoiding a nursing home.

The cost of that vow, coupled with years of healthcare expenses, drained his savings, forcing him to work with no end in sight.

As medical debt burdens millions of Americans, Saling's plight, amplified by a viral fundraiser, highlights the brutal reality of healthcare costs.

Honour Vow Despite Crushing Costs

Saling's promise to Judy, who battled health issues before her death, was unwavering. 'I promised myself, God, her, her brother, her son and daughter, I would not put her in a nursing home,' he told the same New York Post interview.

Fulfilling that vow meant £30,000 ($40,000) in at-home care costs, part of the £60,000 ($81,000) total medical bills accumulated over years.

The Guardian reports that 41% of Americans hold medical debt, with £166 billion ($225 billion) outstanding in 2024, underscoring the crisis Saling faces. His architectural career, once lucrative, couldn't shield him from healthcare's financial toll.

X posts reflect public heartbreak, with users calling his story a failure of the system. Saling's dedication, while noble, left him broke, pushing him to a £7.20 ($9.77) per hour job to survive.

Survive on Grit and Groceries

Now working 20 hours a week, Saling's grocery job is both a necessity and a lifeline. At Harmons, he earns enough to cover rent and food, but retirement is a distant dream. 'I'll likely work until I die,' he admitted.

Yet, the job offers unexpected connections. Shopper Duana Johnson, moved by his story, launched a fundraiser after a 3 June 2025 WSAW-TV report, raising £11,300 ($15,335) by 9 June.

Forbes notes that crowdfunding for medical debt has surged, with £760 million ($1 billion) raised annually in the US. Still, Saling's situation exposes a gap: Social Security and Medicare, meant to protect seniors, fall short for many.

His resilience shines, but the grind at 80 raises questions about a system that demands it.

Rally Community for Change

Saling's story has sparked action and outrage. The fundraiser, urging donations via Venmo, shows community support, but it's a bandage on a deeper wound.

Reuters highlights that medical bankruptcies account for 60% of US personal filings, despite insurance. Advocacy groups are pushing for debt forgiveness and healthcare reform, with proposals like expanding Medicare gaining traction.

For Saling, every bag packed is a step toward stability, but his dream is modest: a small cabin to call home. His story demands more than sympathy, it's a call for policies that prevent others from facing his fate.

Richard Saling's sacrifice for love, now paid in grocery shifts at 80, is a stark indictment of America's healthcare system.

His promise to Judy was kept, but at a cost no one should bear. As communities rally and fundraisers grow, the real fix lies in systemic change, because no one should bag groceries to settle a dying wish.