State leaders are fighting to save dozens of senior citizens from being displaced in Darien.

A rally was held Friday at the Darien Health Care Center on Boston Post Road. State lawmakers are hoping to draw in enough support to keep the center from closing.

The center is operated by HealthBridge Management. State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) says because of financial troubles, HealthBridge is looking to close the facility, forcing more than 100 seniors out of the home. Duff says the state can and should step in and take over.

"The state can step in through receivership, which means [it] can take over because [it] has so many Medicaid patients and the state pays such a large portion of the rates to this nursing home."

An official from the Department of Social Services says the organization is considering the request for HealthBridge to close the home. However, he adds a deciding factor is whether there is availability at other homes within a 20-mile radius.