New passport for my grandmother

Hello,

This query is regarding the passport application process for my grandmother aged 78. She currently resides in Mumbai at her daughter's place due to death of her husband while her permanent address is Trichy( in Tamilnadu). She would be in Mumbai for couple more months till March 2011 before she returns to her permanent address in Trichy.

But she has to plan to travel to US in month of early May 2011.

Hence, here are my queries:
1) Would she need to apply for passport only at town of her permamnent residence (namely Trichy) or is it possible to apply for passport in Mumbai by providing her daughter's residence address as present address? She does not hold any supporting proof for the same but is it possible for her daughter to furnish an affidavit for the same and process the passport in Mumbai passport office?

2) Will she have to travel to Trichy only to process the passport?
3) Would the police verification happen in Mumbai instead?
Any hints on how to make her Mumbai address as present address and go ahead for passport application in Mumbai?
4) Any special considerations for Senior citizens? Would she have to go to passport office in person?

Any hints or inputs shall be useful. Due to her age and lack of support in Trichy, she would not be able to travel to Trichy and hence we are looking for alternatives.

Thanks in advance.