Mac running slow, worse since installing Yosemite from Lion

Question

Mac started to run slow every now and then, updated to yosemite and now getting worse, slow to open programmes like iPhoto (getting jammed when using), websites and switching between the two.  Get a coloured wheel often.  More worryingly recently when waking from sleep, the left half of my screen is distorted like an old unturned TV!!  I am a typical user with little knowledge on how macs work, so am nervous to do much.  Have included the etracheck report for info.  Can somebody tell me if i should take it to a mac "shop" or have any advice on fixing myself.  many thanks
EtreCheck version: 2.1.1 (104)
Report generated 8 December 2014 21:37:40 GMT
Hardware Information: ℹ️
  MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011) (Verified)
  MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1
  1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core
  4 GB RAM Upgradeable
  BANK 0/DIMM0
  2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
  BANK 1/DIMM0
  2 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
  Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
  Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
  Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 384 MB
  Color LCD 1280 x 800
System Software: ℹ️
  OS X 10.10.1 (14B25) - Uptime: 4 days 14:0:17
Disk Information: ℹ️
  ST9500325ASG disk0 : (500.11 GB)
  S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
  EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
  Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB
  Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 498.88 GB (256.65 GB free)
  Core Storage: disk0s2 499.25 GB Online
  MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-8A8 
USB Information: ℹ️
  Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
  Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
  Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
  Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
  Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️
  Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
  Mac App Store and identified developers
Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️
  [failed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist
  [failed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist
  [failed] com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist
  [failed] com.apple.Maps.pushdaemon.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.SafariNotificationAgent.plist
  [failed] com.apple.scopedbookmarkagent.xpc.plist
  [failed] com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist [Details]
Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️
  [failed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist
  [failed] com.apple.awdd.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.ctkd.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist
  [failed] com.apple.installd.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.nehelper.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.periodic-daily.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.periodic-monthly.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.periodic-weekly.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.softwareupdate_download_service.plist
  [failed] com.apple.softwareupdated.plist [Details]
  [failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist [Details]
Launch Agents: ℹ️
  [loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
  [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
  [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Support]
  [loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
  [failed] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist [Support]
  [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
  iTunesHelper ApplicationHidden (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
  Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
  DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.6.8r638 [Support]
  AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin1017277: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 [Support]
  Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 4.3.5f1 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
  Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
  Silverlight: Version: 5.1.20913.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
  FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.239 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
  Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.239 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
  QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
  iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8
  SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.1 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
  CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: Version: 1.1.9 - SDK 10.5 [Support]
  JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 25 Check version
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
  Flash Player  [Support]
  Java  [Support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
  Skip System Files: NO
  Mobile backups: ON
  Auto backup: YES
  Volumes being backed up:
  Macintosh HD: Disk size: 498.88 GB Disk used: 242.23 GB
  Destinations:
  USB-HDD [Local]
  Total size: 0 B
  Total number of backups: 0
  Oldest backup: -
  Last backup: -
  Size of backup disk: Too small
  Backup size 0 B < (Disk used 242.23 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
      2% hidd
      1% Safari
      1% WindowServer
      0% com.apple.WebKit.Networking
      0% DashboardClient
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
  176 MB Safari
  120 MB Microsoft Word
  76 MB Mail
  60 MB WindowServer
  56 MB Finder
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
  49 MB Free RAM
  1.06 GB Active RAM
  1.01 GB Inactive RAM
  1.08 GB Wired RAM
  13.66 GB Page-ins
  500 MB Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
  Dec 8, 2014, 09:23:48 PM Microsoft Excel_2014-12-08-212348_JEANETTEs-MacBook-Pro.hang

Answer 1

Based on the information you need more RAM for what you are running concurrently.
You OS X installation is defective and needs to be reinstalled.
Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list.  In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive.  If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
Download and reinstall 10.10.1
Also see:
Reinstall OS X Without Erasing the Drive
OS X Yosemite- Reinstall OS X
     Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
                 if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.