Mate age is no barrier.
Friend of mine has just left an integrated course at the age of 40 and eJ have taken him. In your case I would suggest pressing on with the CPL/IR to get you employable, but then do an MCC/JOC/AQC with one of the bigger FTOs thereby geting access to their hold pool.
36 is a youngun, thats still 29 years of flying!