It would depend on your Mum's budget but I have lived in north Manchester and also south of the city. I enjoyed living in Timperley within walking distance of Altrincham. The latter town was expensive(Timperley properties were cheaper back then and it had the feel of a village) but Altrincham had good shops and nowadays has a great market with fab eateries. It also has good rail/tram links to Manchester. Lots of attractions nearby, including Quarry Bank at Styal, Dunham Massey at Bowdon and several other National Trust places. Easy access south to Cheshire countryside. An old school chum of mine moved, on retirement, into one of the modern apartments in the fashionable Northern Quarter of the city and she likes the proximity to big stores, restaurants, theatres and all sorts of events. If your Mum doesn't drive, that might be a good option. I read an article a little while ago which suggested that retirees would do better to move into a city instead of taking the traditional option of moving to a quiet spot in the country.