The Callaway Good Life Center is a 35-bed nursing home facility that offers private and semi-private rooms. Qualified nursing care is provided to residents of the facility 24 hours a day, along with physical, occupational, and speech therapy all provided on-site.

When the community of Callaway was in danger of losing its nursing home a few years ago, local citizens stepped up and took ownership of the facility. Maintaining staff and funding for the center has become a challenge, but the staff and board that oversee the operations are dedicated to finding innovative ways to make that happen.

During the 2025 Pioneer Picnic a fundraiser breakfast was held to benefit the CGLC, and the community stepped up in a big way. “We had a successful response to our breakfast fundraiser in June during Pioneer Picnic for the Give 4 Custer County Campaign,” said board member Stacey Guthard. “We raised $18,781.82 during that campaign. We had other generous donations of $55,400 that were made before and after the campaign.”

Currently, a unique and fun fundraising effort is underway for the center involving brightly painted walkers. Director of Nursing Betsy Spanel explains the “walker bomb” campaign.

“We have been looking to promote positivity in the building and throughout the community, and raise more awareness of us,” said Spanel. “A lot of people hear nursing home and think ‘doom and gloom’ and that’s not what we are about at all. We have an active resident group, a good staff, and we like to have fun.

“We were just talking in our morning meeting one day and thought about trying to come up with something fun, kind of like the yard flamingos. Everybody had some ideas, and we came up with the walker campaign,” Spanel continued. “We weren’t real sure how it would go over, but it’s been pretty popular. I think we might bring it back again next year. The people have had fun with it, and the staff has definitely had fun with it!”

The “walker bomb” campaign is running through the month of September, which is Fall Awareness Month. Someone can donate funds to have the walkers placed in the yard of the donor's choice - basically like a prank.

“Then the people whose yard they are in pay to have them moved,” Spanel explained. “They stay in the yard for 24 hours unless that person wants to pay to have them moved sooner.”

The colorful walkers have been making their way around the Callway community, and have even found their way to Arnold. “We like to spread the love,” Spanel laughed.

Along with fundraising, there are several volunteer opportunities for community members to get involved at the center. Spanel also praised the CGLC staff and said she believes most in the community are unaware of the commitment and dedication the staff members have for their residents.

“Our staff puts their whole heart into their work; they love these residents. They will buy clothes for them if they need them, they will buy them treats, a special lotion that they like. It’s really neat to see,” Spanel said. “But a lot of our staff is struggling just like everybody else. Something like a gas card to help them get to work would be nice, or even sometimes just advice. A lot of our staff members are single parents and they don’t know things like car repairs and things like that. I know one of our single moms was working so much that her yard needed mowed, so a neighbor mowed her yard for her. Just little things like that are so appreciated.”

The Good Life Center is also a great place for young people to acquire some skills in various trades. Spanel noted that apart from CNAs and med aides, there are training opportunities in the activities director role, maintenance, and other areas of the facility.

Along with long-term care, CGLC also offers respite care. “If you just need a few days of care because you are going out of town, or are having surgery and just need a few days to recuperate, we can do respite care,” Spanel said.

The facility also provides Meals on Wheels to the community. Residents can call the center to arrange to have meals delivered.

Anyone who would like to participate in the fun of the “walker bomb” campaign can also call the facility to make those arrangements.

“We are very fortunate in our community,” Spanel added. “There is a lot of good support; when people see a need, they are very generous.”

No one is immune to being 'walker bombed' by the staff at Callaway Good Life Center. Even Callaway District Hospital became a paid target for the awareness and fundraising campaign. (Photo courtesy Callaway Good Life Center)