Malta’s buy-a-citizenship option is expensive, but I think they have a couple of options that are less expensive and grant resident status. There’s one geared towards EU retirees, and another (“Global Residency”) that seems open to anyone willing to either spend €220-275k in property or rent + meet other criteria.
They don’t get you a Maltese passport, but residency within Schengen (and the associated near-freedom of movement) seems like it’d be sufficient for the OP’s needs.