Homemade Bifocals

I recently discovered that my good long distance vision had fallen to the hardly fair zone. I went to the eye doctor complaining that I could not read the signs in museums where I was restricted from getting close enough to use my reading glasses and that I could not find a distance where I was able to focus. Sure enough I needed glasses for those situations. Since I had no complaints about other seeing situations because my worst vision involved close work, I chose to get single vision glasses for distance and to continue to wear my reading glasses as an item of apparel.  
Then I got my new distance glasses. I put them on to watch a play, boy were things sharper, but I had to switch glasses to read the program. I put them on to watch TV, but could not needlepoint while doing it. I put them on to look at something Russ wanted to show me on his computer that was on his lap, but then I could not read my iPad in mine. I now realize I needed these glasses more than I knew, but I really need my readers more. Why didn’t I get bifocals?
Now I need another pair of glasses for those times when I need both distance and reading. I have made my own homemade bifocals which work great, but look terrible. Friends have told me that progressives are difficult, and bifocals can give headaches, or is it the other way around?
I am just too old to learn this new world of vision correction. Now I m wondering if there is a LASIK fix to what is wrong with me. I don’t think that I can try contacts at my age. Sticking my finger in my eye is not a skill I am sure I can master.  
I may have to fashion a double glasses neck holder and keep two pairs going all the time. Life was so much better when I did not know how bad my eyes were. I wish I could go back to that ignorance stage again.