ONE of west Wales’ most recognisable independent music retailers has expanded into Carmarthen with the opening of a brand-new Dales Music Store.

The family-run business, which first opened in Tenby in 1947, has become a favourite destination for generations of music lovers, known for its extensive range of vinyl records, musical instruments, guitars, music accessories and merchandise.

Now, after almost 80 years in business, Dales has opened a second branch on Blue Street in Carmarthen, bringing its distinctive yellow-and-blue branding and passion for music to the county town.

The new store offers a wide selection of new and pre-owned vinyl, guitars, musical instruments, equipment, accessories, gifts and official band merchandise, catering for everyone from experienced musicians to collectors and casual music fans.

The expansion represents a significant milestone for the long-established business, which has evolved from its roots as a piano retailer into one of Wales’ best-known independent music stores while remaining family owned.

Owners say they are excited to welcome customers through the doors of the new Carmarthen branch and hope it will become a hub for the local music community, offering the same friendly service and specialist knowledge that has made the Tenby store a trusted name for decades.

The arrival of Dales also provides a welcome boost to Carmarthen’s independent retail scene, giving shoppers another reason to visit the town centre and supporting the area’s growing reputation as a destination for independent businesses.

Photo caption: The Dales team outside the new Carmarthen store on Blue Street, marking the opening of the iconic Tenby music retailer’s second branch.

MORE than half of older people in Wales have struggled with the cost of living during the past year, while one in six say they or a relative have experienced treatment in hospital corridors or other unsuitable spaces.

The findings are contained in Age Cymru’s seventh annual survey, which gathered responses from 1,448 people aged over 50 across all 22 Welsh local authority areas.

Respondents ranged in age from their early fifties to more than 100 years old.

The survey found that 52 per cent had found the cost of living challenging, up from 46 per cent in 2025 and just nine per cent when the survey began in 2020.

Fuel prices, water bills and council tax were among the main pressures reported.

More than a third of respondents said they had changed their lives to cope with rising costs. Of those, 52 per cent had reduced their use of energy or heating, around a third had cut their food spending and 30 per cent were socialising less.

Confidence about the coming year has also fallen. Just 53 per cent said they were confident they could meet their living costs over the next 12 months, dropping to 48 per cent among those living alone and 43 per cent among people with a disability.

Only six per cent of those surveyed were receiving Pension Credit, although the proportion claiming Attendance Allowance had more than doubled since last year.

Health concerns

Maintaining physical health was the most commonly reported challenge, affecting 53 per cent of respondents.

A third said their health had worsened during the past year, while only six per cent reported an improvement.

Almost half, 49 per cent, said it was difficult or very difficult to secure a GP appointment, and 23 per cent struggled to travel to hospital appointments.

For the first time, Age Cymru also asked respondents about “corridor care”, where patients wait for or receive treatment in hospital corridors, waiting rooms or other areas not designed for clinical care.

Seventeen per cent said they or someone close to them had experienced corridor care during the previous year.

Five per cent had experienced it personally, while 12 per cent were reporting the experiences of a relative or loved one.

The longest reported case lasted three weeks, with five people describing periods of at least seven days.

One respondent said a relative had been left sitting in a chair for four days in a corridor “packed with people being treated”, with one toilet shared between dozens of patients and no washing facilities.

Another said a dying relative waited 20 hours for an ambulance, spent a further 18 hours outside hospital in the ambulance and then almost a week in an A&E bed before being moved to a clinical decisions unit.

The patient was suffering from prostate cancer, lung cancer and end-stage heart failure.

Those who had experienced corridor care were also more likely to report serious health problems. Sixteen per cent described their physical health as very poor, compared with four per cent across the survey as a whole.

Almost three-quarters said their health was significantly worse than a year earlier.

Overnight waits in hospital chairs

Geoffrey, 79, from Conwy, cares for his wife, who has cancer and requires frequent hospital treatment.

He said the couple had visited A&E four times during the past year, with each visit involving waits of between six and 13 hours overnight.

He said: “My wife has cancer, which gives her constant pain. She works hard to get through the day. She cooks, tidies up and does a little gardening.

“I have Myasthenia Gravis, which does limit my activities. I do not have the same energy as before, but I work hard to try to keep well.”

He also criticised difficulties accessing NHS services by telephone, describing the 111 system as “hopeless” when automated options fail and callers are forced to begin again.

Marie, 76, from Denbighshire, said she had reduced her use of heating, electricity and water to manage rising costs.

She lives alone and said older people, particularly those aged over 75, were often made to feel “invisible”.

“Although I have very good friends and family, I miss the companionship of having a spouse,” she said.

Carers providing more support

The survey found that 29 per cent of older people were providing unpaid care for at least one person, with more than half saying their caring responsibilities had increased since last year.

Women accounted for 63 per cent of unpaid carers responding to the survey, while 77 per cent were aged 65 or over.

Only five per cent of those identifying themselves as carers were receiving Carer’s Allowance.

Access to social care showed some improvement, with 62 per cent of those seeking support saying they received the help they needed, compared with 52 per cent in 2025.

However, 46 per cent still said accessing support was difficult or very difficult, and 40 per cent were contributing towards the cost of their care.

Transport remained another major concern, particularly in rural and former industrial communities.

Almost a quarter of respondents blamed a lack of public transport for difficulties getting out and about, while 23 per cent cited the cost of travel.

Problems with bus services were reported in every Welsh local authority area.

Fall in optimism

Only a third of respondents said they felt optimistic about the coming year, down from 42 per cent in 2025.

Forty per cent said they were not optimistic, the highest level recorded since the survey began.

Age Cymru chief executive Victoria Lloyd said the findings presented a striking picture of the pressures facing older people.

She said: “It’s perhaps no surprise that cost of living and physical health are at the top of their concerns.

“This was the first year we asked respondents about corridor care, and the results are a stark image of the difficulties facing some of the most vulnerable people during some of their most challenging times.

“Respondents often said that frontline staff were doing all they could, but that the facilities were simply struggling to cope with the number of people needing care.”

There were some positive findings.

The proportion reporting loneliness or isolation fell to 16 per cent, while 19 per cent said their mental or emotional health had been a challenge, down from 26 per cent last year and 30 per cent in 2024.

Ms Lloyd warned that those improvements could be reversed unless the underlying pressures were addressed.

She said: “The fall in loneliness and improvements to mental health are real positives, but there is a real risk of losing these gains if we don’t address the fundamental issues of cost of living and physical health.

“By investing in the organisations and people working to make positive change, we can help people live longer with a better quality of life.”

HAKIN MOTORS has asked customers for patience after the owner’s wife was injured in a collision involving a suspected drink-driver on Friday evening (Jul 11).

The owner,  Alex Nel, said his wife was travelling home from the garage when her Mercedes was struck, leaving the vehicle badly damaged.

Although her injuries are not believed to be serious, she has been left battered and bruised and is currently unable to drive.

As a result, the garage’s opening hours may vary temporarily while the owner takes responsibility for school runs, appointments and other family commitments.

In a message to customers, Hakin Motors said: “Friday evening, my wife was hit by a drunk driver on her way home from the yard.

“Fortunately, the injuries aren’t too serious, but she is battered, bruised and not able to drive currently.

“This means that the garage hours are going to be a little different, with me doing school drop-offs, pick-ups and all the driving around for a while.

“I will do my utmost to ensure everything booked in is completed, but I ask for everyone’s patience while I try to balance the garage with looking after my family.”

The business thanked customers for their understanding and said it would continue working through existing bookings wherever possible.