Returning Resident Visa - SB-1

Hello, I am asking this question on behalf of a friend. My friend's father got his Green Card almost 20 years ago then he left the U.S after that and he has been living outside the U.S till now. he has not visited the U.S not even once since the day he left. He is now around 85 years old and the entire family is living in the U.S, what are his options to come back to the U.S to live with them. Does my friend need to go through the usual immigrant petition i-130 process? Can the Returning Resident Visa - SB-1 be beneficial in his case? Thank you.