Humax seems well-recommended for olders? A one-box solution is often better but that may be too much and the ones I've seen just have a Humax built in.
If she is open to a monthly subscription the BT Youview box is easy to use.
Hi mate maybe get a used Youveiw box off fleabay or a BT vision box.you still get all free view and function fine with 7 day epg and most have 500gb hard drive for the recordings
Years ago, I got my mother-in-law a Humax 9200T - she LOVES it. Been faultless for years. She's a total technophobe, can't use any technology but you should see how she flys around the menus, deleting recordings, scheduling stuff.
Should be able to pick a 2nd hand one up off eBay for next to nowt.