Sensory products for adults have two jobs: to give the kind of touch, movement, sound or scent the person seeks, and to sit comfortably in an adult’s day, whether that is at a desk, on the couch or out in the community. Fidgets, hand rollers, massage cushions and aroma diffusers can all fit that brief when they are chosen with care. This guide covers the types in the range, how an occupational therapist (OT) can help you choose, how National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding for low-cost assistive technology works, and how to keep choices age-appropriate.
As a registered NDIS provider with a showroom in Liverpool, Allcare Warehouse supplies a therapy and sensory range that brings together Kaiko fidgets and hand rollers, HoMedics massage products, and aromatherapy oils and diffusers. The details below are quoted from each product’s own listing.
Key Takeaways
- The range covers fidgets, hand rollers, wearable sensory tools, massage products, and essential oils with diffusers.
- Weighted options in the range are hand-held, such as metal hand rollers.
- An occupational therapist can help the person find and use equipment that suits their goals.
- The NDIS treats assistive technology under $1,500 as low-cost and lets participants buy it from the consumables budget.
- Product listings flag age suitability, from choking warnings for children three and under to teen and adult sizing.
Types of sensory products for adults in the range
Fidgets and hand-held tools
The largest group is the sensory and fidget tools range, most of it from Kaiko. Many of these fidget tools are small metal pieces. The Cog is described as compact and easy to use one-handed, the Siamese Massage Ball Fidget as teen to adult size and suitable for 14 plus years, and the Caterpillar fidget as having weighted stainless steel beads that roll between the fingers. Pop It style fidgets, squishes, stretchy sand and puzzle cubes add softer or more playful options.
Weighted hand rollers
Weighted items here are all hand-held. Kaiko hand rollers come in a range of weights, most with a zip-up case, and the heaviest is described as working both as a weighted product and as a fidget. Listings suggest rotating a roller in one hand, rolling it between the palms or rolling it to massage.
Wearable tools
Wearables keep a tool within reach without carrying it. The Caterpillar Unisex Necklace has a break-away clasp for safety if pulled and can be shortened to the wearer’s preferred length. The Wrist Spikey is a stretchy, woven metal band for people who like strong sensory input, and its listing recommends the XL size for most people who want to wear it all day.
Massage and aromatherapy
For larger areas of the body, the HoMedics massage range includes shiatsu cushions with heat, foot massagers and a full body heated vibration massage mat measuring 129 x 48 x 4.5 cm. The Elite Compression Foot Massager has an automatic 15-minute off timer. The aroma therapy range has essential oils and ultrasonic diffusers, and the Lavender Essential Oil listing suggests five to seven drops in a diffuser.
Choosing sensory products for adults with an OT
An occupational therapist works with people to make everyday living easier, and Healthdirect lists finding and using equipment, and dealing with stress and emotions, among the ways an OT can help. Your OT may also suggest new equipment to help you reach your goals. Allcare Warehouse does not do assessments, so this advice comes from your own therapist. If you need one, Occupational Therapy Australia has a Find an OT service.
Questions worth taking to the session:
- What kind of input does the person seek or avoid: soft, firm, spinning, weighted, warm or scented?
- Where will it be used, such as at a desk, in bed, in the car or on outings?
- Does it need to be silent, or discreet enough to carry in a pocket?
- Are there risks to plan around, such as chewing small parts, heat settings or scents in shared spaces?
The right sensory tool is the one the person reaches for without being reminded.
NDIS funding for low-cost sensory items
The NDIS defines low-cost assistive technology as items costing less than $1,500 that do not need to be custom-made or modified. Participants can buy them with the consumables budget, and the NDIS asks you to tell it what types you might need so they can be included in the plan.
Low cost does not mean automatic. The item still needs to be directly related to the disability, help with the person’s goals, be something NDIS rules say can be funded, be safe to use, and be supported by evidence, such as a recommendation from an allied health professional. Whether a particular fidget, massager or diffuser meets that test is decided by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) under the plan, not by Allcare.
When assistive technology is funded in a plan, the NDIS says the funding includes at least $500 to seek advice from an assistive technology advisor, who can help you learn what is available, choose options and set the item up safely. Our assistive technology funding guide and our guide to buying disability aids with NDIS funding explain the claiming side in more detail.
Age-appropriate choices for adults
An adult’s sensory kit should not look like a child’s toy box. Several listings speak to this directly: the USB LED Light is described as suiting teens and adults who want subtle light without a childish feel, the Magnetic Desk Sculptures as a teen or adult desk addition, and the Kaiko fidget range as popular with older children, teenagers and adults. Other items, such as plush squishy animals and finger poppers, have a younger look, so read the description before choosing for an adult.
Safety notes matter too. Several listings, including the Caterpillar fidget, say they are not suitable for children three and under because small parts can pose a choking risk, and the Sports Ball Slow Release Squishy is described as not suitable for people who like to chew. Keep that in mind if a tool will be used around grandchildren, or by an adult who tends to mouth objects. For a broader look at choosing equipment, see our guide to choosing assistive technology, and for background on scents, our article on aromatherapy.
Shortlisting sensory tools? Ask the team about fidgets, hand rollers, massagers and diffusers in the range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a kit for trying several fidgets at once?
The Kaiko Clinician Sampler Resource Kit has 15 items chosen by Jo, an OT, to cover soft through to spikey, spinning, weight and the options in between. Its listing says it was created after therapists and clinicians asked for advice on which tools cover a range of needs, so it suits a therapist trialling options with a client or a person who wants to try a spread of tools.
Which fidgets are quiet enough for an office?
The Cog and the Caterpillar fidget are both described as quiet fidgets, ideal for the workplace, travel or the classroom. The Cog is small enough to keep in a pocket, and the Caterpillar glides between the fingers with very little sound. Check each listing if silence matters.
Do aroma diffusers need a power point?
Not all of them. The Imagine Cordless Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to 4 hours of continuous use, or 8 hours intermittently, so it can sit anywhere in a room. Check each listing for the power source of the other diffusers before choosing one for a bedroom or day program space.
How heavy are the weighted hand rollers?
Kaiko hand rollers in the range run from 100 g through 180 g, 250 g, 260 g and 305 g up to 470 g, the heaviest. The Slimline versions are soft to the touch, while the metallic ones can be kept in the fridge between uses, the listings say. An OT can suggest a weight to start with.
Can a massage glove double as a fidget?
Yes. The Double Sided Sensory Massage Glove has rolling stainless steel balls on one side and flexible spikes on the other, and the listing describes using it on the hands, feet and body or simply as a sensory tool and fidget. It is black, described as discreet for all ages, and can be chilled in the fridge or freezer first.
Building a sensory kit that fits adult life
Start small. Pick one or two sensory products for adults from the type the OT suggests, try them in the places they will actually be used, and note which ones get picked up and which get left in a drawer. That record helps the next conversation with the OT, and with the planner when the plan is reviewed.
Related services
Visit the Liverpool showroom at Shop 7 inside Northumberland Arcade, 230 Northumberland Street, Liverpool, or call 1300 767 777 to ask which sensory and massage products are on display.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Read our disclaimer.