You might want to try using an auto updating bootc based solution instead, such as universal blue with customized images. They have instructions on how to do image customization.
But more importantly: send him something like a NanoKVM along with the USB!
Well the image is based on fedora linux and the tooling was developed by fedora, I believe. I put Aurora Linux on my dad's aging PC around christmas, because it doesn't qualify for Windows 11 and 10 ends support soon. In my experience it boots pretty slowly on physical machines (with n=2, fine on VMs though), and it doesn't reliably wake from suspend, but other that that, it's completely fine. I did not try to install any other Linux for comparison though