About Us

Our Mission

Next Horizon will help you find the perfect community for yourself or your loved one.
We provide concierge-level placement services based on our deep understanding of health care needs and quality local options. We are a one-stop shop in helping assist Senior and their familys’ for this transition in life.

Our Story

If not for our co-founder, Holly, Next Horizon would not exist. Holly was extremely close with her late mother, Sandy, also known as “Honey” by her grandson. After her mom’s diagnosis of leukemia, Sandy’s health slowly deteriorated eventually resulting in both blindness and dementia which required advanced and constant care.

As Sandy’s primary caregiver, Holly was solely responsible for her mother’s quality of life. Throughout her mom’s evolving health situation, Holly was repeatedly frustrated with the lack of viable support systems to help her in choosing the right community for her mother. She was willing to pay for help, but few options fit her and her mom’s expectations.

After researching and touring countless independent and assisted living communities, Holly was overwhelmed with trying to figure out the next steps for Sandy on her own. She called on several national locator services for assistance but they had little local knowledge of the facilities and were supported by call centers on other continents. The local “consultants” were often biased to a small set of communities familiar to them so there had to be a better way.

Over the course of conversations with family, friends and now co-founder, Lea Anne, it became clear that Holly was not alone in this sense of frustration and helplessness. Many had examples of similar situations with their own family members. Together they decided to try and help other families avoid this type of stress and heartache – and Next Horizon was launched!

Our Founders

Holly Deshields

Co-Founder

Holly is the support and connector of Next Horizon. She currently serves as the co-director and Senior Vice President of the Austin office for McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC , where she assists clients by lobbying and consulting on state government relations.

Holly volunteers in various capacities around Central Texas. She is an active member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Advance Team and also founded Young Texans Against Cancer’s Austin Chapter.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and is a Kappa Alpha Theta alumni and Texas Ex.

Holly enjoys spending her free time with her son, Hunt (7), and golden retriever, Winnie.

“In memory of my mom, I hope to pay-it-forward by helping families navigate through one of the most difficult times of their lives. Making a positive difference during a stressful situation is the biggest gift I can offer to honor my mom’s legacy.”

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Lea Anne Erwin

Co-Founder

Lea Anne is the Chief Operating Officer at Next Horizon, overseeing operations and resident/client experience. She is also a Senior Real Estate Specialist which specializes in assisting Seniors in the sell of their homes and properties. She is focused on delivering a superior customer experience that is seamless and takes pressure off of families at an often stressful and difficult time.

Lea Anne has had quite a unique career path establishing early her talent for maintaining exemplary customer relationships from the very start. From Real Estate to Restaurateur, to the Texas State Senate, and most recently Lobby Assistant, she has honed her expertise in creating a superior customer experience. Her most important job is being a full time Mother to her 2 girls Birdie (9), and Penny (7). Lea Anne and her husband Bill have called Austin home for the last 19 years.

“Let me bring guidance and support to you and your family during what can often be an emotional and extremely confusing time.”

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