I put in this PSA a lot, but I'd live here first. It sounds like OPs partner has only visited and not lived here and there's just a lot to figure out before jumping in. A lot of the empty new builds will also agree to a 6 month lease which gives OP time to figure out all of the small details that go along with wheelchair access in a new city.

For example,the west side has some of the worst plowing/shoveling that I have ever seen. A lot of places in PVD also have sidewalks that just disappear randomly and large swaths or North Providence aren't walkable in many areas or pitch black at night. It also sounds like OP has a lot of contingencies based on Medicaid which I cannot personally speak to-- MA might be the long term option if it is significantly more robust than RI (if its like most govt functions here).