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Can she operate the .38 competently?

Then she doesn’t need anything else. Make sure the revolver is in good repair, make sure she has good quality ammo. If she has problems with the trigger pull, take it to a ‘smith and ask for an ‘action job’ - which involves smoothing out the internals of the revolver to smooth the double action pull, and if we’re talking of a S&W, the DA trigger pull can be lightened from about 12# to 9#.

Here’s why I think a shotgun is utter nonsense for this person:

Shotguns aren’t that portable. They kick. They don’t move well in tight places.

An older lady could put a .38 in the pocket of her housecoat and have it on here everywhere she goes in the house. That’s not going to happen with a shotty, period. If she’s answering the door and has to deal with someone trying to get in, I’ll wager that she can’t manage the door and a shotgun at the same time.

People need to remember the rules to a gunfight:

Rule 1: Have a gun.

Rule 2: Have a gun that you can get on target in the required amount of time.

Rule 3. Re-read Rules 1 & 2.

A .38 in her housecoat pocket beats a shotgun left propped in the corner of her bedroom when trouble comes calling.