Is anyone else afraid to be the squeaky wheel?

I do understand the concern of retaliation against your mother, but if there are issues, they should be addressed now.   The approach that there's no point in complaining is key.

Don't view the situation as complaining; view it as problem solving, for you and for the AL staff.   Re-evaluate your approach, learn to view it as working together to create a solution that benefits your mother, but also the staff b'c it allows them to provide better care.  

I really think the key to working out issues is to work together, which may require attitude readjustment on both sides.

If you want more suggestions, more detail on the specific situations would help.