I have a helper dog and love her. She is at my side and will not leave when I am having an off day. She is OLD, and we are thinking about what if when she is gone.
Good luck with your choice of breed, size and age. Sort of like Ice Cream cones.. Too many choices.
The horror to me was the "crate" training.. I did not agree but when we trained puppies for the Pilot Dog program - when I was healthy, young and had 13 plus year old kids in the house to help... that was the introduction. It was a "had to agree" or not be in the program. Could not believe, when we were gone they were in thier "crate"... cage... and eventually we kept the door off because it was the puppy's bedrooms! Amazing. The "Crate" kept the dogs out of finding things to eat when board. These puppies were on a waiting list and an accidental death woudl be a longer wait for those on the list.
So, dust off books on when you are alone.. 8 hours is a long time. We always had TV turned on or a radio..
The pup/dog will be great for your mom too.
Good luck !
Ellen