Thanks to everyone for chiming in. All you input has been great and greatly appreciated. I'm working my way through a 15-hour day, so hopefully some of my comments below actually make sense.
...I recommend one of the better quality harnesses available now like those from Hunters Safety System. I also saw what looked like a good one from Muddy Outdoors (no affiliation). I have found that these harnesses/vests that are easier to put on are much more likely to be used...and you MUST use them...
Thanks for the tips on harnesses, Muddy. Now that I think of it, my dad might just keep his, so I'll have to start looking. I'm off to the big city this weekend, might need to stop in at Cabela's and Gander Mountain.
...i recommend looking at the summit viper(if it is still labeled that) climber if you want it to be easy, lightweight, and comfortable....
My dad said his was a "Cabela's" and from what I can tell, they sold re-branded Summit stands a few years back. Heck, anything is better than the rickety-rope-ladder model I used back in my teenage years!
...only advice I can give you is make sure you have back cover, Its a must to help break up your profile. If you dont have the proper tree with back cover, zip ties and brush work well especally later in the season when foilage is gone...
I've thought about this and like the knucklehead that I am, I missed my chance at some skyline camo insulated bibs that were on clearance last season at Cabela's. I was actually going to use them on the ground. Ninety-nine percent of the camo out there is such a joke - waaaay to dark and detailed. The rest is either too expensive for my wallet, or made of some sort of fleece which would leave me in briar hell.
Zip ties and some broken limbs sound like the perfect "helper".
...Not much help on stands, but if your dad is giving up the hunt because of not being able to use one, perhaps you could look into ground blinds for him. I suspect they might be less effective overall, but might be better than sitting the hunt out at home...
The old man is far, far from giving up hunting. He's got a permanent stand at his little honey hole near the orchard. And just last year he purchased a crossbow because of accuracy "issues" with his compound. His Savage 99 (.300 Sav.) will most certainly have to be pried from his cold, dead hands.
(accuracy issues means he could no longer get all the arrows to touch at 30 yards. the man is crazy.)
I just wish I could hunt with him again. It's 1,000 miles to home and I am, how does one say this, of rather limited financial means.