Many purrs to annibale16 for taking in an older cat that needs a home I definitely don't think age will be a problem. I took in a 7 year old siamese when I was living in college and she adjusted just fine. For every cat that I've taken in, this is what we would do:
Put the cat into a small room (laundry room, bathroom, basement etc.) when it first moves in. Let it become accustomed to that room, so that it feels comfortable. We would do this because our house was so big at the time that having it all at once may be overwhelming. Once the cat seems comfy with it's room, gradually let it out for exploration of the house. It will know that "it's room" is it's safety spot, and will return there if it becomes uncomfortable. Margaret is right in that, you may be surprised at how quickly the cat bonds with you. Once it's comfy in its new home, your bonding will begin and I'm sure you'll have found a great friend! Let us know how it works out!

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb