2010 13" Macbook Pro trackpad intermittent working

On my 13" MacBook Pro 7,1 I recently updated OSX from El Cap to High Sierra 10.13.6, which is as high as this MBP will go. The laptop functions very well, except for one recent oddity with the trackpad which started only with the move to High Sierra. If I am reading a long article or if I leave the laptop for a few minutes, the cursor will not move the page up or down, but the arrow will move where I send it. At times the mouse also will not advance the page and a click or two will not wake up the trackpad. If I move the cursor arrow over the little moving bar on the right or click on it with the mouse or wave the arrow around over the advance bar, sometimes the pad will 'wake up' and function again.

I just turned on my Bluetooth trackpad to see if the issues continue.; no issue right now. This could be problem not for me but for my wife.....I have talked her into taking this MBP and dropping (off a cliff!!) her HP laptop which operates at tortoise speed, constantly stalls for updates, and can't remember logins, etc. I have a newer MBP coming from OWC (thanks guys!) and she is dying to use a computer that will not frustrate her on every keyclick!

Please stop by with any suggestions to bring my old MBP back to health. Thanks in advance!

72/73 de k1qed, bob.c qrp 4evr!