These people know no better, I think they were brought up to not understand the value of life and to have the confidence to live it.
These kind of people are terrified to be 'real' parents and scared of being bad ones. People only ever behave the only way they know how.
They play bingo because they believe if they win money they will be happy, because they cannot see that they need and can get off there ass and make a difference.
They have had an under average education and probably lived below the poverty line in their childhoods. I know lots of people spend there lives below the poverty line as a kid and grow up to really make something of themselves, but those people had the self esteem factor given to them by their parents.
She doesn't take her kids out because she cannot get the drive to do it. This is now a way of life that will take one hell of a lot to get out of. I think she needs some empathy.
The best thing you can do is to encourage this woman to talk about her life and help her believe there is more to life.
May I suggest that you get her to read 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne and if she doesn't read you can get it on DVD. Good Luck Kat