The boards are about a month into a six-month cost-cutting programme to save about $4 million annually on housework assistance to elderly people, which they say they is over-delivered compared to national averages.
By 5pm on Wednesday, 562 letters had been sent by the Otago board and 497 by the Southland board, prompting 312 appeals in Otago and 206 in Southland from elderly people receiving an hour and a-half or less of housework help a week.
About 1600 elderly people in the target group were to get letters telling them of the service cut. Another group getting more hours of help were to be targeted later in the programme, reassessed either by telephone or in person.
Mr Chrisp said the board expected the number of appeals it had received.
Asked why, he said that services were cut in Southland last year, when some elderly people's help was reduced to an hour, and 25% to 30% of people appealed.
"Given these reductions were partial and not total, and given the high publicity around the current programme of reductions, it is unsurprising that about 50% of people are requesting a review."
So far, four Otago appeals had been resolved, three resulting in the elderly people retaining their help.
Figures were not available for Southland appeals.
Mr Chrisp said the needs assessment team had been beefed up with extra administration staff to help it cope.
He did not respond to an emailed question about whether the number of appeals would compromise the projected cost saving.
The elderly person's help continues throughout the period of appeal.
