Hi,
Regarding your experience of difficulty working with people you are close to...
In the Level II manual, there are three secrets to qigong healing listed. One of them states:
" To purify your energy and make your healing more effective and powerful go into the emptiness while doing healing. In the emptiness you are free of the concerns of everyday life so you can focus on helping others."

There is more than one answer to your post in that.

Do your best to help elders. You can help them alot, regardless of whether they completely are able to clear themselves or not.
It is possible to completely prevent Alzheimers for future generations, and that is a very positive and important side of the equation too. Plants qigong seeds in the younger generation. Somehow, that feels to complete a circle, and it keeps your mother's spirit, and gift of experience to you, in the loop.
love,
gallen