We're talking about a 13 year old veteran here. I would NOT start crate training him at this point of his life. That is provided he has never been crated before. And knowing he has no other training other than house training and a trick here or there, my goal would be to make him as comfortable and loved in his Senior years as possible.

Is it possible to baby crate a safe area of the house and make a comfy bedding area there also? You can make sure that any things he could destruct are put somewhere where he can't reach them or put in a different room from where he will be baby gated in.