Proposed changes at Tasmania's largest aged care provider will lead to staff cuts and a deterioration of services, a health union and daughter of a former resident say.
Southern Cross Care in November announced it would shift to a "household" model of care, involving catering and leisure staff being trained to care directly for residents.
The provider plans to make all 40 of its enrolled nurses in Tasmania redundant and offer them "redeployment" opportunities.
Southern Cross Care says there is not enough funding for enrolled nurses following federal government reforms to the sector made after royal commission recommendations.
The Health and Community Services Union's Robbie Moore says one fifth of Southern Cross Care's 1200 staff could face the chop under the restructure.
Southern Cross Care CEO Robyn Boyd said the claim was an "out-and-out lie".
"That's not what is going to happen at all. Our intention is not to cut staff," she said.
"Our intention is to implement a different model of care to improve the quality of life for our residents, but also to increase the skill set of our staff."
Yvonne Murfet's mother Beth, who recently died aged 81, lived at Southern Cross Care's Fairway Rise home for two years.
Ms Murfet said her mother received exceptional palliative care in the four days before her death, but her time at Fairway was "two years of hell".
She said an understanding of her mother's Parkinson's disease was lacking among staff, meals were cold and showers not regular.
"I've had staff only two months ago stand in front of me crying saying 'we are so sorry we were unable to give your mum a hot meal'," she said.
Ms Boyd has denied a lack of staff training and said her door was always open for people to raise issues.
Ms Murfet and Mr Moore want Southern Cross Care to abort the proposed reform, fearing care standards may suffer.
"Losing enrolled nurses who provide day-to-day care around wounds and other health factors would be very detrimental to residents," Mr Moore said.
Ms Boyd conceded some enrolled nurses may choose not to be redeployed at the organisation.
Southern Cross Care, which cares for some 700 residents, is undergoing consultation on the plan.
It has previously said registered nurses and clinical care coordinators would remain "front and centre" of the plan.
