Does he have an up-to-date portfolio on what he's been working on? how are his side projects?
I think that's one of the most effective ways to convince someone that you haven't been resting on your laurels/are still innovating.
Also, he could take the chance (assuming you guys are not 3 steps from being on the curb) to try and bootstrap a small startup -- 56 years is a ton of experience, he has to know some pain points in some markets/communities that he can fix (maybe his own?) and charge people money for.
That's an interesting point. He's been working for some months on his own project, that is an app for managing SMEs' salesforce. He has some experience on the enterprise so he really understands the problem.
The thing is that he is actually 3 steps from being on the curb (I live alone and am economically independent)
wow, sorry to hear that... that makes things way more difficult.
In that case, I would suggest that he applies to some of the bigger companies (like... real big), like HP/Dell, and market himself as a "tech-lead" -- it's got more hope of being near code than a project manager, and they value experience (and it's relatively easy to get into big companies)... Though I don't know which big companies are in spain (AFAIK that's where you are?)
I think that's one of the most effective ways to convince someone that you haven't been resting on your laurels/are still innovating.
Also, he could take the chance (assuming you guys are not 3 steps from being on the curb) to try and bootstrap a small startup -- 56 years is a ton of experience, he has to know some pain points in some markets/communities that he can fix (maybe his own?) and charge people money for.