Went through this with my father. When he had to go to "independent living" they made him give up his pocket cutlery. When he felt like that was one of the last things he could hold on to from his previous life (he called "independent living" a warehouse for old people to die in) it was crushing. So I looked at moving him elsewhere. Everyone was the same, though.
I met with the Sr. Director of his facility and we arranged that I could get him a small folder, with one blade. It was tough. Dad dexterity and strength had declined to where he could not operate a liner lock, triad lock or axis lock.
>> I << wanted him to have some kind of lock to help keep from slicing himself in case he lost control of his knife. Also, no pocket clip as he didn't like them because he thought he might think he had it clipped securely when he didn't and then lose it. Also, since he wasn't a fidget flipper or a showoff, no one knew he had it with him and to him a pocket clip was like an ad. And he was one of those folks that just wouldn't lend you his knife. Like me (or maybe me like him) he just felt better with some kind of blade in his pocket.
I wound up getting him a Buck cousin of this knife (ad from BF supporter):
That Buck 55 checked all the boxes. Met his price point, even though I was buying it. I DID NOT want it to wind up with the other knives I bought him that sat in a box because they were too good to use. Broke my heart to see his classic folding PUMAs, a couple of Carl Schlieper folders in stag, a couple of vintage Bokers in bone, and a few others I bought over the years in a box I found when I cleaned out his house. They weren't that expensive, but to him, a knife was a tool and prudence must be used when purchasing. You didn't carry a knife you couldn't afford to lose or damage when it was called to duty.
He understood bone, stag, wood, and ivory. No other scale material. So no "plastic" handles like my big folders ( "no Pop... really, it's Micarta or G10, harder than hell, wears great" Him: *snort* "Looks like plastic to me" ) , the 55 has a tiny bit of heft so it feels good in the hand, the one we got was VERY well fitted and made, and it slipped easily in his pocket. It is a good looking knife in a world of screwed together parts. And when I saw him, I could easily sharpen it for him while we chatted. Never rusted, never needed maintenance, never needed to show him how to open/close it, and bonus points for being made in America.
Good luck with your Father. Enjoy him while you can. The end can be pretty swift.
Robert