That contributed to a $1.1 million budget overrun in disability support so far this financial year. Disability support's annual budget is more than $106 million. Hours for each client had not changed and were still, on average, 6.33 each a week.
Funding and finance director Robert Mackway-Jones' financial report does not say why the total hours increased.
Aged Care Association Otago Southland board member Malcolm Hendry said Southland aged-care facilities had noticed a significant drop in referrals.
By contrast, Dunedin rest-home occupancy was holding up, Mr Hendry said.
It was a matter of speculation in the local aged-care sector why there appeared to be different criteria operating in different parts of the board.
He did not have up-to-date information about what was happening in wider Otago.
Keeping people at home longer with support meant when they did go into residential care, they often went straight to hospital-level care, Mr Hendry said.
Funding remained a major issue for the sector, he said.
The board has previously said its new home-based support service would reduce cost, provide consistency across Otago and Southland, and help people stay in their own homes longer.
The system will be fully in place on July 1.
