By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging is asking for public input this Thursday morning over its four-year program plan and upcoming budget.

Seniors are invited to the meeting to talk up the value of their local center and how important the senior services are to them. Bethea Eichwald, a planner at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, says the agency has had no increase in state funding for years and that means services must be cut.

“Senior centers in particular are in serious jeopardy. These are vital sites in the community. They provide meals and benefits counseling, health education, exercise, socialization for thousands of older Philadelphians.”

Services such as home delivered care are also suffering because of the cuts.

“More than a thousand people in need of those services are on a waiting list. Those are persons who would often be placed in nursing facilities but can receive care in the community at home.”

The meeting is Thursday at 10 a.m. at PCA, which is located at 642 North Broad Street.