I like to use the "Safeway test'. I count the number of dubs who pass me in the aisles and pretend they didn't recognize me, and compare it with the number who say hi how are you. If it's about even, it's status quo.
Someone stopped their cart and talked with me for a while just a few days ago, so I'd say anything that has changed with your mother is most likely regional- maybe the CO or local PO has an ax to grind about it and is bringing it up a lot.