I gave them Lubuntu and their scanner app running in WINE.
It worked fine but they refused to switch because "it's not muh windows". This is how Microsoft corrupts people for life...
Most of my users, some even over 70 with little computer experience, are doing fine on Linux, but I "converted" them before they had to experience that awful mess, so it has been relatively easy: from XP or Win7 to a customized XFCE (its defaults are ugly and unpractical) has been a breeze.
Correction: Its defaults are ugly and unpractical on Debian. It looks a lot nicer on Manjaro for example.