My Colombian Partner coming to UK

[gallahad]

I am a 69 year old British Citizen I have had a 3 year online relationship with a 57 year old lady from Colombia. Since spending one week together in France last October we have decided we would like to spend our lives together. Because I have serious long term health issues I cannot consider living in Colombia so we wish to make a life here in UK. I have read all I can find on the government immigration websites only to become more and more confused.
The one clear thing I can establish is that as I am in receipt of Disability Living allowance we do not have to meet the minimum income requirements of £18,600. My partner has her own income from rental on two appartments she owns in Colombia and along with my pension (including pension credit) we can afford to live here without recourse to any more benefits than I already receive. I had hoped that she could come here on a six months visitors visa and during that time we could arrange for a permanent stay. However it states on the government site that she cannot apply once here in the UK. So it would appear that she would have to return to Colombia after six months and apply from there for a longer stay as my partner.
I would appreciate answers to the following questions and any advice forthcoming.

1) What do I have to send her to sponsor her visitors visa?
2) As a return ticket to Colombia is over £1,000 is there anyway we can avoid the extra journey for her to go back to apply. Especially as at our time of life our time left together is already very limited and the £1,000 would make a considerable difference to our standard of living.