As a divorced woman who depends on monthly retirement, it scares me to death to even consider that I might one day be eating cat food because I can't afford food. You have to think as well...elderly people have not only to pay for assisted living or nursing home care which is horribly expensive, there is also medication, dr copays, hospitalizations which can bankrupt even a younger person who is working still. I totally understand her not wanting to give you money at this stage in her life and geez $5000??? What the heck, that would piss me off if one of my kids asked me for that as a 'nest egg'. I might think about a loan for a down payment on a home that they would pay back but certainly wouldn't hand off money like that, esp as I don't really have it to give.
You're wrong to ask and she's within her rights to have said no.