'Have a happy day': Man brings joy to care facility residents during quarantine
The pandemic has separated families from loved ones in nursing homes and care facilities.
There are strict visitation rules in place, but an Iowa man makes it his mission to keep smiles shining and hope alive.
Step after step, day by day, Neil Deutsch's motivated to make a difference and spread joy.
"I went for a walk every day, and know these places are in our neighborhood and I often walked by and realized they were shut down and people couldn't have family visitors coming in," Deutsch said.
With each wave, it's Deutsch's mission to bring so many smiles from the facility windows.
Since March, he's been coming to the Urbandale Senior Living Centers every few days with his sign, "Have a happy day" and waves through windows on his 45-minute walk hoping to get some smiles.
"Walked around the windows and waved and it was a good thing, so a few days later I did it again, and it just became a habit," Deutsch said.
It's a habit everyone looks forward to each day.
"I get so much back from this, just a simple smile, a wave, connecting with somebody. Well worth the time it takes me to walk down here and do this," Deutsch said.
He even organizes routine group parades. Deutsch hopes others use his simple act of generosity to bring hope and human interaction where it's needed most.
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