Stable older people with high degrees (me) and evident intelligence (writing skills) but no recent experience are COMPLETELY UNWELCOME.
I’m simply going to have to start a business. My advanced degrees proved worthless in my life, sorry to say. Though I met one best friend in grad school.
50 is about the age when a fair amount of people start having costly medical issues. If health benefits are involved, I would suspect the company will take the risk if they are in dire need of the skill set. Otherwise, why take the risk on an older hire and their spouse?