As you indicate the programmed capacity is set to 32,000 grains but it has been regenerating with only 9.5lbs/salt, the entire capacity would have been exhausted and needs to be restored. 8 lbs/salt is not going to do that.
Although 32K grains is the stated softener capacity, programming is most often based on 30K grains as total capacity reduces over time due to resin bead loss due to breakage and some capacity is utilized in the regeneration process.
The usual recommendation when resin is exhausted is to regenerate two times back to back with no water use in between using 15 lbs/salt each time. You can either program the softener for 15 lbs brine or leave the settings at 8 lbs and manually add water to the brine tank to total at least 5 gallons water as each gallon will dissolve 3 lbs/salt.
Water should be in the brine tank for 2.5-3 hours before initiating each regen as time is required for the salt to dissolve. You could perform the 1st regen after dinner and initiate the 2nd just before bed.
In addition, the programmed capacity of your softener needs to be reduced to 24K grains if you intend on using 8 lbs per regen.
Estimating 60 gallons water/person/day and no iron or maganese, you require 6240 grains/day (60 X 4 ppl X 26 grains/gallon).
With a usable capacity of 24K grains based on 8 lbs/salt, this calculates as 24,000 / 6240 = 3.8 days before the 24K is consumed and regeneration is required. That is not a true picture as the unit does not regen immediately but waits until 2am so fractional days cannot be counted. In addition, 1 day reserve is required as the 24K usable capacity could be consumed at say 7am, but the unit will not regen until 2 am the following morning. This means that your 1 cu/ft unit will regenerate every 2 days although the .8 fractional day might work as a reserve, but that really can't be relied upon.
You might be best to increase the amount of salt to 10 lbs which will regenerate 27K of usable capacity. Although that will not be as efficient in salt use, the unit will not use as much water as the regen frequency is extended 1 day.
27,000 / 6240 = 4.3 days - .3 (fraction) - 1 day (reserve) = 3 days between regeneration.