Susan, I have a suggestion on the bedside lamp situation. We have plugs which plug into the wall outlet (and the lamp plugs into the plug.....kinda like an adapter).....all that is necessary then is to "touch" the lamp anywhere on the base/stem and the light will go on.........tap the lamp again and it will go off (or in the case of a 3 way bulb, several touches to brighten the lamp to each level and then off). The cost of this "adapter" was less than $5 in the US......we can purchase them at Target, KMart or a lighting store. Rita