Thanks everyone. She did call an exterminator and I checked the web for info. Bad time of year to try and get rid of them. I think they are in the eaves and getting in thru the attic. I hears skittering while I was sleeping up there.
So she needs to stuff a towel under the door to the upstairs. But right now she needs to calm down a little. Her son will need to call her several times. At least her neighbor helped in the middle of the night.
If she was here, this would be resolved quickly and easily. But 600 miles away is kind of difficult. My husband almost killed himself trying to help and take care of his father during his last two months.