80-Year-Old Ex-Architect Bags Groceries Utah To Cover Late Wife Medical Debt

Gary Saling, an 80-year-old retired architect from Utah, now bags groceries at Smith's Market to pay off $80,000 in medical debt incurred caring for his late wife, Carol, who suffered from two forms of dementia, including progressive supranuclear palsy. Despite a distinguished career designing luxury homes for affluent clients and earning his firm a spot on Architectural Digest's top 100 list, Saling was left financially strained after fulfilling his promise to keep his wife at home rather than placing her in a nursing facility. Medicare covered some medical appointments, but at-home care alone cost about $40,000, forcing Saling to work four days a week well into his retirement years. The local community responded with compassion, as customers and new friends like Duana Johnson started fundraisers and donation drives to help him. Saling's story underscores the immense financial and emotional burdens that can accompany end-of-life care in the U.S., even for those who once enjoyed professional success. His devotion to his wife and the subsequent generosity from his neighbors highlight both the challenges and the resilience found in such personal stories.