It’s easy to pick out areas in which we wish West Virginia and Ohio were doing better for residents. The list is long and varied.

But in one category, both states are doing quite well.

In WalletHub’s list of “States With the Best Elder-Abuse Protections,” the Buckeye State is 4th in the country and the Mountain State is 9th.

Not too shabby.

Given the age of our states’ populations, those are important protections, indeed.

Ohio’s 32nd ranking for prevalence (share of elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints; estimated elder fraud rate; and elder fraud loss amount per reported frauds) is commendable, as is its 16th for resources and first for protection.

West Virginia is 17th for both prevalence and resources, and 27th for protection.

Areas for improvement in the state are its 47th ranking for the number of certified volunteer ombudsmen and 50th (not dead last — that’s Louisiana) for nursing home quality.

“Our nation’s elderly population is vulnerable to being hurt physically, financially and mentally by both their families and their caregivers,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

“Elderly people who foresee needing care in the near future, or families who want to make sure their relatives receive the best treatment possible, should be aware of the states with the best elder-abuse protections. These states offer robust legal safeguards, plenty of organizations and volunteers dedicated to helping elderly residents avoid abuse, and high-quality nursing homes and other care facilities.”

There is always work to do.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 25.1% of Ohio’s population is projected to be over age 60 by 2030. In West Virginia, that projection is approximately 30%.

Lawmakers and other public officials who are already working to protect those folks the best we can are to be commended, but must not slow their efforts. Families must remain vigilant as well to ensure the best results.

Goals such as access to affordable, quality nursing home care and increasing awareness of volunteer opportunities and education for those volunteers must be prioritized. The folks on whom we have relied for decades are now relying on the rest of us to make it happen.