bindParam? Wordpress 4.9.5 SQL LIKE statement %s and %LIKE%

Question

My 1st post. :) Is there a function similar to bindParam in wpdb? Kind of like this (theoretical) setup?:

$names = text, array, object...whatever

$sql = "SELECT spouse FROM people_table WHERE person_name LIKE :names ";

$wpdb->prepare($sql);

$wpdb->bind(:names, $names); //this is the concept I'd like

$results = $wpdb->get_results($sql); 

return $results;

I just spent more hours than I care to admit trying to get %LIKE% to work on a SQL stmt in wpdb. I'm creating a plugin using Namespaces and Classes. I was almost certain that was screwing me up, but it turns out there's just really AWFUL, outdated info online. EVERY solution I found failed...except for one, by my new hero Sneha Agarwai here on the wp stackexchange site. I'm using his solution (which was not at all obvious to me). I'll post my version of his solution here just in case it helps anyone else. BUT...since WP keeps changing, I have a feeling this solution will be outdated in a year or two. I cannot understand why there isn't a more clear, concise solution. And I REALLY can't understand why the WP codex has incorrect solutions on their site. But anyway...here's the code. Maybe it'll help someone else.

 public function find_prefixed_dbmodulenames($strPrefix){
        global $wpdb;
            $like = "%" . $wpdb->esc_like(stripslashes($strPrefix))."%"; 
            //escape this for use in LIKE statement
        $sql = "SELECT * 
        FROM $wpdb->options 
        WHERE option_name LIKE %s
        ";
        $sql = $wpdb->prepare($sql,$like);
        $results = $wpdb->get_results($sql);
        return $results;
    }

That $like stmt works (and I'm super grateful I found it), but it's baffling and seemingly overly complicated.

(And, yes...I realize I should sanitize the input to be safe. I'm not done yet, so any suggestions on improvement are welcome.)

So, back to my original question: Is there a smarter/concise/intuitive solution more similar to bindParam PDO?