I am afraid to bring up various concerns with the AL, because I don't want it to blow back on my mom. I don't want them to treat her worse because I am "complaining."
I have no other options - I can't move her, so what is the point in complaining? I have no leverage. They probably don't know that, but still.
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.