Heidi Olsen started her healthcare career in 1995 when she obtained her Licensed Practical Nursing degree. She worked for a Podiatrist and Home Health for a short period of time before getting married. Shortly after getting married, she and her husband moved numerous times before settling back in Blackfoot in 2006.
She was blessed to be able to stay at home and raise their 3 children up until the time they were all in school. She was able to get back into the nursing profession doing Hospice on a part-time basis for about 5 years. During this time, she spent many hours in the Gables facilities taking care of patients that resided in these facilities. This is when she developed a love for the Gables because of the loving atmosphere felt upon entering the doors.
She then went to work as a back-office nurse for a General/Bariatric Surgeon for about 3 years. At that time, her in-laws moved in with them, so she quit her full-time job to stay home and assist them. During those 4 ½ years, she worked part-time as a facility nurse for some Assisted Living Facilities in the valley, which later included both Gables’ facilities in Blackfoot and Pocatello.
At the end of July 2019, she was asked to take over The Blackfoot II facility as the Administrator. she says, she has people ask her all the time if she misses “nursing”. However, she feels she has the best of both worlds. She has always loved doing office work, so now has the opportunity to be in the office as well as still being involved in each Resident’s healthcare decisions.
She absolutely loves each and every Resident and the joy and happiness they bring to her. She loves being able to show them love and compassion and to comfort them when they are having a bad day. She says she is truly blessed to be part of the Gables family, and most importantly the life lessons she learns each and every day from Residents.