San Jose, CA
Adult Day Centers
Maria Nicolacoudis
Hearts & Minds Activity Center
Why tendercare trusts Maria
Vetted April 2026 · Verified Member4.7
About Maria
Beyond the resume
Maria grew up walking distance from Hearts & Minds and still does today - for her, it's not just a job, it's her community. Her brother's experience navigating dementia alongside a developmental disability is what drew her to this work, giving her a rare, firsthand understanding of what families are really up against.
Hear ts & Minds Activity Center is a nonprofit organization founded with the mission to enrich the lives of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by providing safe, nurturing, intergenerational services, and support. Day care services reducing isolation for program participants and caregivers and better allowing the capacity to age in place, are provided for hundreds of persons with all stages and levels of dementia annually. The opening of Hearts & Minds childcare center created the first and only on-site intergenerational program in Santa Clara County. The program provides person-centered, interactive, therapeutic activities specific to persons with dementia, including activities that encourage physical mobility, enhance cognitive skills, stimulate social interaction, help with nutrition, personal hygiene, and stability, and, most importantly, instill a sense of purpose.
Hearts & Minds Activity Center is the first large capacity adult daycare in the US and the only dementia specific adult daycare program in Santa Clara County. Hearts & Minds provides therapeutic, active, and supportive adult daycare for people with all levels and stages of dementia, from MCI to advanced dementia. All eligible program staff are certified dementia care practitioners, and all staff receive at least 30 hours of training annually, including 2 hours of monthly, in-person training. Hearts & Minds program provides person centered care based on the Teepa Snow GEMs model. The program focuses on social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative activities and stimulation in our secure, 13,000 square foot facility built with dementia specific design. Hearts & Minds operates a childcare on the same campus so that we may incorporate daily intergenerational activities with our children and seniors. Hearts & Minds is one of the original Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Centers in California and was one of only 7 organizations in California chosen by the Department of Aging to update and modernize the ADCRC model. Hearts & Minds operates 9 hours a day to accommodate working family caregivers, and we provide personal care, including toileting and feeding, for our participants. We also provide caregiver education and support services.
Licenses & Accreditation:
California Department of Social Services Adult Day Care License
tendercare Trusted Network member
Specialties
Dementia specific Adult Day Care
Service Area
4.7
As a psychologist I highly recommend the services at Hearts & Minds Activity Center. There intergenerational approach is unlike any other in the community. The caregivers are compassionate and a gem for client's suffering from Dementia and Alzheimers, but also for caregivers.
Dr. Diane Strachowski
November 2025What an AMAZING Center! Excellent activities, caring personnel, friendly atmosphere etc.
Remy Pessah
January 2026FAQs
Hearts & Minds Activity Center is a nonprofit organization founded to enrich the lives of people affected by Alzheimer's disease and dementia, serving hundreds of participants annually across all stages and levels of dementia. For families weighing adult day programs in San Jose, CA, this is where Hearts & Minds Activity Center starts.
Hearts & Minds Activity Center is the only dementia-specific adult daycare program in Santa Clara County, and it operates a childcare center on the same campus so it can incorporate daily intergenerational activities with the children and older adults in both programs.
Hearts & Minds Activity Center operates 9 hours a day to accommodate working family caregivers, and it provides personal care, including toileting and feeding, for its participants. This is part of the adult day programs Hearts & Minds Activity Center offers families in San Jose, CA.
Credentials on file for Hearts & Minds Activity Center include California Department of Social Services Adult Day Care License. The practice has 42+ years in the field. Hearts & Minds Activity Center has completed background check verification through the tendercare Trusted Network vetting process.
A family can call Hearts & Minds Activity Center directly or send a message through tendercare, with a reply usually the same day. Expect a first conversation about what is happening now, what adult day programs would fit, and the timeline involved.
