Update Things are getting worse and worse all the time. My niece Kathy, who has been the leading force in trying to help me find another apartment, has suddenly become ill.  Sometime last night she began having heart palpitations and pain in one of our arms.  She was taken to the hospital and later released after having an EEG.  Tomorrow she is scheduled to have a stress test. The lease on my apartment expires this week.  There is a possibility that I can rent it on a monthly basis with an increase in the rent.  There is a limit on the number of months that someone can rent it in this manner, but I do not know how long this can be done. I have to make a quick decision on whether to rent the apartment on a monthly basis or renew my lease for another year. Should I decide to stop looking for another apartment at this time, my niece is smart enough to know that I have called off the search for another apartment because of her health.  She will be furious.  I do not want to cause her any additional worries.  It seems that no matter what I do there will be some negative repercussions. I am faced with a dilemma, and do not know what to do.