Thank you all for your kind welcome! To answer some questions, I am, indeed, an only child. My mom moved out of state 32 years ago, so she does have many friends up there -- she just hates to ask anyone for help. (I don't -- next time I go see her I'm looking for her address book and I'm going to start callling people, because I know she won't.)
Thankfully, she does have one very good friend who has been very helpful to her lately, and for that I am very grateful. I simply cannot be there all the time, as I have a family and a job here in Southern California. (Nancy B, we're almost neighbors! I live in San Gabriel and work in Pasadena.) Every time I suggest to my mom that perhaps she should relocate down here so that I can be more involved in her care, she freaks out.
As for Medicare, it's my understanding that Medicaid will only pay for her 'premium' to upgrade her Medicare from part A to part B. It's better than nothing, but I still find it unbelievable that someone whose income is limited to Social Security somehow 'earns' too much to qualify for Medicaid!
My biggest frustration right now is making sure that she arranges for her treatment. She is focusing on relocating from an upstairs to a downstairs apartment, but it is imperative that she start chemo right away -- at least that's what I've been told about sclc.
Anyway, thank you all. I've got lots of reading to do here!