First, plan on enlisting the aid of friends or family or neighbors for the initial setup. Heck if any of the above have legal aged kids ... offer to pay them for their services in beer.

How raised are you thinking? Beds that are on the ground but with the aid of retaining walls raise the soil level a foot or so above the ground level? Containers on legs raising the soil level to bench/table height 3 or more feet above the ground? (for an example of the latter, click >>> here)

The latter would limit what you could plant both due to plant size and more significantly the limitations of soil depth and weight of soil the containers could support. On the plus side, the latter method would require less stooping and kneeling -- something which might be highly beneficial if your current health makes getting up and down tiring or difficult. It could also be placed -- and next year moved if desired -- wherever would be most convenient for you ... whether on a patio or close to a door for easy proximity.

No reason you can't have some flowers intermixed with vegetable plants. Sweet alyssum makes for great ground cover when it fills out to help suppress some weeds and has a great honey like fragrance on warm sunny days. Also serves as a nectar source for many of the wild bees until your veggie plants are ready to flower. Or you can put down mulch to suppress weeds. If looks aren't critical, cardboard or newpaper (3-4page thick or more) will suppress much weed growth. Can always cover the board/newspaper with a thin layer of mulch if the more utilitarian approach doesn't quite look good to you. (And it makes it possible to use a lot less mulch which means less $ spent.)