1990 年代之後，「移民回流」形成了新興的移民研究議題，關注到這些在假期、季節與人生階段間往復移動的遷移現象，其中，老年人口的跨境退休遷移（International Retirement Migration, IRM）之返鄉回流（return migration）現象也是一項研究重點。本文透過中高齡外移原住民之訪談資料與文獻之對話，歸納原住民老年退休回流之抉擇，一如相關理論所預測，親屬（家族）網絡所在區位是影響退休居住選擇之判準指標；此外，原鄉部落中是否保有足以安身立命的「土地」以及對於部落現行生活模式與規範變遷之「認同」是重要的影響因素；個人的經濟條件與健康狀況也會影響老年居處的選擇。最後，跳脫定居一處的靜態想像，來往二地間之老年居住型態則是不少曾經外移或子女在外地生活者的務實策略。誠如所言「家是根源」，而家之概念又可概分為家人、家園與家鄉此三類意涵。我們相信「返鄉議題」的核心是「回家」而非「返回原鄉」；涉及的實踐行動不單是交通與移動，更是一種生活方式的打造與價值規範的回歸。

Return migration becomes a new research issue in the 1990s, which concerns about round of migration in vacations, seasons and life span. Return migration about the elderly international retirement migration （IRM）is a research point as well. The research investigates the factors in return migration of the retired indigenous emigrant by interviewing the middle-aged and elderly and analyzing document, then generalizes the decision of retirement migration. The research founds the relatives attachment is one of factors. The ownership of land and ‘identity’ on current tribal lifestyle and changing norm are important factors. Besides, individual economic and health conditions are important as well. Round trip living is an alternative way for the elderly who used emigration or have children living outside tribe. ‘Home is root’, the idea of home divides into family, homeland and hometown. The corn of return issue is returning home, not hometown, It is not only about transport but also building a lifestyle and restoring traditional norm.