You may wish to consider the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ Series in either 9mm or .380 Auto.
It was designed for those whose size, strength, or physical conditions (i.e. arthritis) make racking the slide or loading the magazines of most semi-auto handguns difficult. It has a micro-compact sized polymer frame, and a very easy to rack slide. The magazines have "tabs" that make them easy to load.
It has a built-in grip safety and can be ordered with or without the ambidextrous manual thumb safety. It weighs 23.2 ounces, is well-balanced, with minimal recoil.
Mrs. Bumppo is 5'4", 104 pounds, with delicate hands, and swears by hers.
Thanks, I’ll look into it!