I love my Panasonic FZ-28, but Im with whoever said go for a slimline compact camera; same kinda spec as the 'big-zoom' models but more compact.
I would do some research first though, and I know a brilliant site that has great impartial reviews:
http://www.cameralabs.com/
Helped me choose my camera, which comes out in the top 2 or 3 ranking on all the sites- explains all the features, pros and cons, and any other camera of a similar spec that would be comparable.
You could subtley ask your mum ( mom? speak English! ) whether she prefers the mini- dslr design or the compact design, and base your choice on that; a cheap tripod would be cool too, comes in very handy.