Looking for reassurance - Visual Impairment - Comments made by neighbours

I think I'm just  looking for some reassurance really for my mum, I do not live with her, she lives on her own. She receives PIP which includes enhanced mobility. 

She was upset the other day because a neighbour had made a comment about her going out on her own without a symbol cane. 

Under certain circumstances she just has to go out because she has no access to help all the time and she is on the waiting list for a care needs assessment. 

She was given a symbol cane and mobility training but she often feels uncomfortable using it so wont often. Local people laughed and made comments. 

She has some vision but she is registered partially sighted and this is due to diabetes complications and a bleed she suffered which required laser surgery. 

She has some sight of course and when she goes out it is the local area, as in to the small shop or the GP which is round the corner etc, anywhere else she pays for a taxi. 

It was even commented in her PIP report years ago when assessed that going out would cause sufficient safety concerns. 

She's now worried her neighbours are talking about her and says she should just stay in the house to avoid people pre judging, however I've told her she is entitled to go out, just because she receives a disability benefit and that she has limited sight she shouldn't just stay indoors and the whole point of enhanced mobility was noted due to safety reasons.