Brooke Shields has accused The National Enquirer of trying to exploit her vulnerable mother.

On Friday, the actress announced that her 75-year-old mom,Teri Shields, who suffers from dementia, was checked out of her New Jersey nursing home by two National Enquirer reporters in pursuit of a story.

“I intend to take every lawful action against all who were involved or who authorised this despicable act,” Brooke tells PEOPLE.

“My mother Teri Shields has been diagnosed with dementia. For her safety, she has temporarily been in a senior living facility, a very difficult decision for me. Late Thursday afternoon, I was alerted by [police] that my mother had been signed out of the facility by two reporters of the National Enquirer – who falsely claimed they were friends of hers.”

She added: “They then drove my 75-year-old mother around looking for a tabloid story. As anyone knows who has a parent who suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s, it is one of the most difficult experiences you can go through as a son or daughter. The idea that the National Enquirer took advantage of her state is reprehensible and disgusting.”

The National Enquirer has since disputed the star’s accusations in an official statement, responding with: “At no point did the facility, which had given its permission for the outing, contend that there had been any wrongdoing in a situation where two people who had known each for more than a decade.”